Mosquitoes in Greece

BurnitBlue

Well-Known Member
Joined
22 Oct 2005
Messages
4,575
Location
In Transit
Visit site
Daily Telegraph print a Reuters report that mosquitoes in Greece may now carry Malaria, West Nile Virus, Chikungunya, and Dengue Fever. This is becauses of recent very hot weather.
 
Greece averages 10 to 15 cases of malaria a year and about 8 cases of west nile, heard nothing about the others, the figures have been steady for years.

Just forwarding what I have just read in the DT. I hope they are wrong because the mosquitoes have been 24/7 and trillions of them int the Preveza boatyards. Before they were boatyards the land was an ex swamp.

This year, I know if two crews that moved into a hotel to escape the mosquitoes while waiting for their pre-booked flights.

The problem is made worse by the Greek austerity savings. ie no money for spraying.

Bring lots of DEET next year.
 
The problem is made worse by the Greek austerity savings. ie no money for spraying.
This is simply not true (certainly in the Ionian) they are spraying now (times of spraying were announced localy. The mossies that cause the problems are not normal mossies. Google it and have a read.
 
That came from an article in the Athens News, if it heats up more here then the cases will go up, but not a real problem at present, unless you are one of the cases, it's all about blood, if your blood is sweet, then you will get mullered, if not it's the occaisional bite, i'm lucky, they don't like me, but they do like the wife.
 
Tends to be Northern Greece, Macedonia etc, nothing new , I think they are Tiger mossies, not worth worrying about.

Oh Good. Pity Northern Greece though. The DT is a bit sensational at times but this was a Reuters report so maybe more reliable.

Still I fly home in a few days. In the meantime I wear long pants and long sleeved shirts burn mossy tablets and keep the hatches shut.
 
Still I fly home in a few days. In the meantime I wear long pants and long sleeved shirts burn mossy tablets and keep the hatches shut.

Mossies bites seem to react to people differently, I see the occasional tourist looking like a pin cushion, I take no form of protection at all, I get a couple of bites a year. I think lots get bit, but it does not show or react in different people. To me, the worst offenders are the tiny no-sees fly, often blamed on a mossy bite, but they can bite much quicker!
 
Mossies bites seem to react to people differently, I see the occasional tourist looking like a pin cushion, I take no form of protection at all, I get a couple of bites a year. I think lots get bit, but it does not show or react in different people. To me, the worst offenders are the tiny no-sees fly, often blamed on a mossy bite, but they can bite much quicker!

And them little boogers itch like mad and the bite gets hot, not had that many mossies about here this year.
 
Corfu has been bad, with tiger mossies and normal ones, I normally do not get bitten, however this year, I've almost been eaten alive! Bites everywhere. Also mossies normally bite early morning, late evening, these barstewards have been at it all day.
Some people who have lived on the island for 15-20 years, dont remember it ever being this bad. Wasps have also been particulary bad this season.
 
Corfu has been bad, with tiger mossies and normal ones, I normally do not get bitten, however this year, I've almost been eaten alive! Bites everywhere. Also mossies normally bite early morning, late evening, these barstewards have been at it all day.
Some people who have lived on the island for 15-20 years, dont remember it ever being this bad. Wasps have also been particulary bad this season.

Strange, we on Kef have had a quiet year for wasps, not noticed any more mossies, mind you, we live considerably further South than yew!:)
 
Strange, we on Kef have had a quiet year for wasps, not noticed any more mossies, mind you, we live considerably further South than yew!:)

Honestly, its been bloody awful for mossies, wasps were bad, but I wouldnt know whats good and bad as far as wasps go, just telling you what the locals say.
 
Corfu has been bad, with tiger mossies and normal ones, I normally do not get bitten, however this year, I've almost been eaten alive! Bites everywhere. Also mossies normally bite early morning, late evening, these barstewards have been at it all day.
Some people who have lived on the island for 15-20 years, dont remember it ever being this bad. Wasps have also been particulary bad this season.

Agree. Preveza area has been hell this autumn. Also 24/7. No rest. Mosquitoes work shifts night and day. Bad in the town also, folk complaining all the time.
 
I have just returned home from laying up in the Ionian yard. I sprayed on extra strong repellant 3 times a day while in the yard at Prevza and still got badly bitten.
 
This is simply not true (certainly in the Ionian) they are spraying now (times of spraying were announced localy. The mossies that cause the problems are not normal mossies. Google it and have a read.

From the same Reuters report:
And with austerity budgets, a collapsing health system, political infighting and rising xenophobia all conspiring to allow pest and disease control measures here to slip through the net, the mosquitoes are biting back

Note the pest and control measures statement.

One guy was complaining in the office that he was climbing the mast when he was attacked by a swarm of mossies. He was so distracted that he spent half the time in the bosun chair swatting the sods until he started the two hand clapping thing and nearly fell out of his chair. The other guy said that as he was passing the large blue boat, a mossy grabbed him and dragged him under the boat.

OK you cannot believe all you hear. But believe me.
 
So how do I unsweeten my blood? I tried drinking marmite as I heard that worked but not sure it did...

could try spreading it on your arms and legs so they just stick,
seriously, it's something you are born with, diet can help, try eating what the old locals eat, takes time but does seem to help, differant medications can also unsweeten blood.
 
Great, really glad that others are suffering!! :)

Here the 4 engined variety have departed, left with small vicious barstewards that are around most of the day. I, who almost never gets bitten, am a most unattractive mosaic of red spots & itching like hell! :(

Where have these mini mossies come from and even more importantly, how can we get rid of them?
 
In Italy as well

I have just returned from N/E Italy where the mosquitoes are the worst I can remember for many years. We also had them all day so some must have been blown up from Greece. Lots of southerly winds this year in the Adriatic.
 
Top