[size=55:3rmhlbf8]novinite 09 August 2010

Bulgaria Might Face Deadly Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes, infected with the West Nile virus have killed three people for three days in Greece.

The Bulgarian Darik Radio reported Monday that patients have been hospitalized in the north part of the country, waiting for a diagnosis and treatment. The Bulgarian doctors are taking samples from patients in the infectious wards, in order to isolate the virus and get acquainted to the disease.

“Doctors have started to take samples from mosquitoes, ticks and rodents, in order to study the virus, because the danger is approaching,” said Angel Kunchev, epidemiologist from the Health Ministry.

He has explained that the first symptoms of the virus are similar to the other viruses – vomiting, high temperature, and fever. However, as the disease progresses, specific symptoms appear. The West Nile virus can very fast affect the brain membrane and turn into meningitis.

According to Kunchev, the virus could be brought to the territory of Bulgaria through the tourists, coming back from vacation, as well as through the mosquitoes, which carry the virus.

“During the change in climate is observed displacement of tropical diseases to areas that are not typical for them,” Kunchev said and added that a map from the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control shows that the rare tropical viruses have begun to appear in the Balkan areas more often.

The doctor also said that there has been an outbreak of a West Nile virus epidemic in Romania about 10 years ago. He added that the disease has caused the death to more than 1000 people in the USA for the past ten years.

oh great !!! more good news....

[size=55:6eqjtjtj]novinite 09 August 2010

Health Ministry: No Deadly Mosquitoes in Bulgaria

The Bulgarian Health Ministry has not detected any deadly mosquitoes, carriers of the West Nile virus, and has not registered any cases of this infection.

The ministry explained Monday that the deadly mosquitoes are the same in looks and biting as the regular mosquitoes. However, their development and reproduction cycle is different and this is the reason for them not populating the Bulgarian territory.

The climate changes could cause a change in the mosquitoes’ range but this theory has not been proved yet.

However, there is data for the mosquitoes’ presence in the north part of Greece and in Macedonia, as well as periodic records during the summer months of single cases or small outbreaks.

The West Nile virus begins with a fever, high temperature, nausea and vomiting, which are the symptoms of an ordinary virus infection.

However, the symptoms turn very fast into encephalitis and meningitis and the infected need urgent hospitalization.

According to the Bulgarian legislation, the infections have to mandatory be registered and announced.

From the beginning of 2010, Bulgaria has recorded about 120 cases, for the same period in 2009 the cases were 137.

For the period August 2-8, 5 cases were registered, while the week before – 4.

Protection from the dangerous mosquitoes happens through the routine measure for protection of regular mosquitoes – putting a net on the windows, using of preparations to protect exposed parts of the body during a stay outdoors.

Municipalities are obliged to sustain the territories free of mosquitoes and ticks.

[size=55:2ekbqs11]novinite 10 August 2010

Deadly Mosquitoes Infect 16 in Greece

The number of people affected with the West Nile virus in Greece has reached 16.

The Greek authorities have taken measures and have started to spray the areas populated by the mosquitoes that carry the disease, the Bulgarian National Radio reported Tuesday.

The chief physician of the “Limodon” Hospital in Greece’s Thessaloniki has confirmed that out of the 24 patients, hospitalized for meningitis for the past month, 16 have been affected with the West Nile virus.

The West Nile virus begins with a fever, high temperature, nausea and vomiting, which are the symptoms of an ordinary virus infection.

However, the symptoms turn very fast into encephalitis and meningitis and the infected need urgent hospitalization.

Officials from the Greek hospital have also confirmed that two of the three people who died in the last days have been infected with the virus, but have died as a result of other health problems.

The epidemiologists from Thessaloniki who treat the infected patients are unanimous that the virus is risky for older people.

The hospitalized people are over 70 years of age. Two youth have already been released from the hospital in good health condition.

The doctors suppose that there are more people affected with the West Nile virus without displayed symptoms of fever.

The Greek Health Ministry has stated that the most effective way for combating the deadly mosquitoes would be the spraying, which has already begun in the north part of the country.

The swamps of the rivers are closely watched because they are likely to have outbreaks of the mosquitoes.

The Bulgarian Health Ministry stated Monday that they have not detected any deadly mosquitoes and have not registered any cases of the West Nile virus in the country.

Seems these critters are getting close maybe to close for comfort? anyone know which way they are traveling?

Blyme these little beggers seem to love me sincerely hope they don't fine me here in the UK

Oddy

[size=55:1llnjvxr]Sofia echo 13 August 2010

West Nile virus spreads in Greece, Bulgaria still in the clear

The number of Greeks who have contracted the West Nile virus has risen to 32, the centre for disease control and prevention said in a media statement cited by the Greek daily Kathimerini on August 13.

For the moment, the virus had not spread to Bulgaria, as the Health Ministry said it has not detected any cases of the West Nile virus in the country.

The ministry said earlier in the week that the deadly mosquitoes are the same in appearance as the regular ones. However, their development and reproduction cycle differs and "
this is the reason for them not being spread on Bulgarian territory"
.

A patient from the south-western Bulgarian town of Blagoevgrad near the Greek border was hospitalised late on August 11 at the Military Medical Academy in Sofia, suspected of being infected with the WNV.

The patient, a woman, is in a coma. She underwent a thorough medical examinations but so far there is no evidence to suggest that she had WNV.

South of the border however, only two days earlier, 21 people were diagnosed as having the illness. Most of those who have the virus were suffering from brain inflammation or meningitis but none were reported to be in critical condition, the report said. Two elderly people died in the past week after being bitten by mosquitoes carrying the virus and then suffering brain inflammation.

It was reported that the people died because of complications from other ailments.

The West Nile virus has been spreading in northern Greece and the infected have been hospitalised in the cities of Thessaloniki and Veria. Some of the infected have already recovered.

Authorities have announced that measures have been implemented to fight the deadly mosquitoes, including constant monitoring for new cases of encephalitis, and promoting increase of public awareness and ensuring the quality of donated blood, reports said.

[size=55:l1s7jak1]novinite 31 August 2010

Romania Reports First West Nile Virus Fatalities



Two people have died of the West Nile flu virus in Bulgaria’s northern neighbor Romania.

Five others have been infected with the virus, announced Cseke Attila, Romania’s Health Minister.

The West Nile fever has already caused 4 deaths in Greece and 6 in Russia.

The Romanian fatalities occurred in the capital Bucharest and in the Black Sea city of Constanta. The other cases of inspections were discovered in the eastern and southern parts of the country.

The Romanian Health Minister urged the population to avoid contact with insects as the West Nile virus is spread by mosquitoes.

No cases of the West Nile flu virus have been reported in Bulgaria yet, and the Bulgarian health authorities have sought to assuage the fears of the people after the first fatalities in Greece earlier in August.

[size=55:1co0pwb3]novinite 08 September 2010

3 Dead, 4 Infected with West Nile Virus in Turkey

Three people have died and four more have been infected with the West Nile virus in Turkey, the Turkish Health Ministry has announced.

All the victims came from the western Turkish provinces Manisa, Aydin and Isparta. They were all elderly people and had other serious illnesses, the Turkish Health Ministry has announced.

Two of the infected people have been hospitalized.

The Turkish authorities have announced that there was no danger of a West Nile virus outbreak and no serious threats for the public health.

Tiger mosquitoes are reported to be the carriers of the West Nile virus, which begins with a fever, high temperature, nausea and vomiting, which are the symptoms of an ordinary virus infection.

However, the symptoms turn very fast into encephalitis and meningitis and the infected need urgent hospitalization.

The virus caused the deaths of at least six Russians, four Greeks and two Romanians.

No cases of the West Nile flu virus have been reported in Bulgaria yet, and the Bulgarian health authorities have sought to assuage the fears of the people after the first fatalities in Greece earlier in August.

i have never seen a mosquitoe in 3 years of living in bulgaria, albeit we do not have much of a garden that would encourage them, have heard of many people who have encountered them, but here, (near the coast) not seen any ever.

l read this thread with interests because all of natures creatures do not have any respect to humans boundaries.l thought it would be a bit of help if one can recognize this mosquito.
Here is a photo of the little blighter

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It maybe this

The Asian tiger mosquito or forest day mosquito, Aedes albopictus (Stegomyia albopicta), from the mosquito family Culicidae, is characterized by its black and white striped legs, and small black and white body. It is native to the tropical and subtropical areas of Southeast Asia;
however, in the past couple of decades this species has invaded many countries throughout the world through the transport of goods and increasing international travel.
This mosquito has become a significant pest in many communities because it closely associates with humans (rather than living in wetlands), and typically flies and feeds in the daytime in addition to at dusk and dawn.

The mosquitos predator has been killed off in numbers thus allowing the mossy to breed in numbers.
The bat can eat up to 140 mossies in one night and if there are several bats in the area this can keep the numbers right down.The bats habitat has been eroding fast due to mans greed for land to build on.l heard of a fish in Eypyt that has a staple diet on the tigers mosquito larva.But,if these fish have also been interferred with then surely the moquitos population will grow out of control.

But the worse recipe for a plague to happen is to transport the species to another part of the world where the conditions are just ideal to start the plague off.Where there are no fish eating larve and no bats that feeds off mosquito are the ideal conditiona for a plague to take hold.

Bring in the natural predators before it gets out of hand

There are still plenty of natural killers around and here are a few

The Guppy
As one of the most common natural mosquito killers, guppies thrive in all water sources. Since water is necessary for the growth of a mosquito;
they will eventually be in a body of water when producing or growing through to their next stage in life. This makes the mosquito readily available for guppies to come up to the surface and scoop up mosquito eggs, mosquito larvae, or adult mosquitoes floating on the surface.

Birds
Birds, like the purple martin, feed on swarms of mosquitoes whenever they come in contact. However, they do not contribute greatly to mosquito control.

bird
Most species of birds eat any flying insects they come in contact with, which given the amount of insects there are in the world, limits the amount of mosquitoes they consume. The mosquitoes a bird consumes only makes up 0-3% of their overall diet.

Bats
The bat also thrives in the evening hours, when mosquito activity is at its height. They do not go out and specifically hunt for mosquitoes, but if they stumble upon them in the sky, it’s all over. Again, mosquitoes can be consumed by bats in mass amounts, but mosquitoes only make up about 1% of a bat’s diet overall. Bats do serve as wonderful insect control, no matter what habitat they are in.

The Dragonfly
The dragonfly hunts mosquitoes in mid-air. They often consume large amounts of mosquitoes at one time, attacking a swarm, eating one mosquito after another. Dragonflies are often known as “mosquito hawks” because they can kill thousands of mosquitoes at a time.
The dragonfly not only feeds upon the mosquito when it is a full grown adult, but also when it’s in its larval stage. A dragonfly larva develops in water, making mosquito larva an easy nearby target.