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West Nile Virus: Athens region intensifies mosquito spraying efforts
🇬🇷 Greece /Health & Science

West Nile Virus: Athens region intensifies mosquito spraying efforts

From Ta Nea · () Greek

Translated from Greek and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • The Attica Region is intensifying efforts against the West Nile Virus, conducting large-scale ground spraying in Eastern Attica.
  • The operation uses specialized high-pressure machinery, known as "turbines," to cover approximately 10,000 acres.
  • Officials emphasize that spraying will avoid densely populated areas and focus on mosquito breeding grounds to protect public health.

The Attica Region is escalating its fight against the West Nile Virus, with extensive ground spraying operations underway in Eastern Attica. This comes as the number of cases has surged to 232, with Athens being the most affected area.

Interventions will be carried out using the misting system. A special vehicle will create a cloud with an ultra-low volume (ULV) spray mixture, which will cover facilities, homes, gardens, and vehicles, without leaving residue by morning, but eliminating adult mosquitoes.

— Giorgos KonstantosAn official from the Attica Region's relevant department explained the spraying technique.

The region is deploying specialized, large-scale "turbine" sprayers, designed for extensive operations. These machines will operate throughout the night with three high-power units. The goal is to curb the virus's spread by targeting adult mosquitoes.

The spraying will not take place within residential areas. Specifically, it will be implemented from Arionos Street to Marathon Avenue, in an area that is not densely populated and always with care so that there are no people or animals in the environment.

— Giorgos KonstantosAn official from the Attica Region's relevant department clarified the operational boundaries.

Officials clarified that the spraying will utilize an ultra-low volume (ULV) mist system. A specialized vehicle will create a cloud of insecticide that covers facilities, homes, gardens, and vehicles. The aim is for the mist to dissipate by morning without leaving residue, while effectively eliminating adult mosquitoes.

Faced with such a critical public health issue, there is no room for complacency.

— Nikos HardaliasThe regional governor announced escalating interventions.

Health officials stressed that the spraying will not occur within residential zones. Operations are planned along specific routes, avoiding densely populated areas. A second team will focus on pastures and private lands near the airport, where no homes are located. These measures are part of a broader strategy to address public health concerns, with interventions continuously adapted based on scientific data.

Interventions are constantly being adapted based on scientific data, and spraying has already increased by 30% since the beginning of 2026 throughout Attica.

— Nikos HardaliasThe regional governor highlighted the adaptive nature of the control measures.
About this summary

Originally published by Ta Nea in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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