The Municipality of Nestos, situated along the river of the same name in Northern Greece near the Bulgarian border, is urgently appealing to the government to declare a state of emergency due to a serious and worsening mosquito infestation.
According to the Athens News Agency (ANA), municipal authorities have formally submitted a request to the General Secretariat for Civil Protection and the Regional Governor of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace. The statement describes the mosquito problem as a “major threat to the life and health of both residents and visitors,” stressing that it has persisted for years without sufficient mitigation.
Authorities attribute the mosquito boom to several factors, including the presence of the lake, numerous marshes and stagnant water, thousands of acres of rice fields, and an aging irrigation network riddled with leaks.
Additionally, rising summer temperatures and broader climate change trends have contributed to the spread.
“Despite the extensive efforts by the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, including large-scale spraying operations in our municipality, the expected results have not been achieved,” officials said.
Nestos Mayor Savvas Michailidis told ANA-MPA that declaring the municipality in a state of emergency is the only way to fast-track essential intervention projects. “We are dealing with a very difficult situation that requires immediate action,” he said.
The request comes just days after the first West Nile virus infections of the year were reported in Greece. The virus, which can be life-threatening, is primarily transmitted by infected common mosquitoes, adding urgency to the Nestos Municipality’s plea.
If approved, the emergency declaration would enable the municipality to implement specialized projects aimed at mosquito control and public health protection.
