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The Ministry of Health informs the public about the launch of the Pilot Programme for the control of the Aedes aegypty mosquito in Kiti, Larnaca, using the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT). The programme will last until the end of the year.
What is Sterile Insect Technique (SterileInsectTechnique - SIT)?
The Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) was developed in the late 1950s to manage harmful insects and is environmentally friendly. The insect population of interest is collected and produced in larger numbers. The male insects of interest are then sterilised using ionising radiation, using machines similar to those found in hospitals and medical centres. The sterilised male mosquitoes are then released into the environment in order to achieve coupling with the females. This results in sterile eggs, leading to a significant reduction in the size of the insect population, or even its elimination. This method is proposed by the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
Why is this method aimed at releasing male individuals?
By applying this method in the case of invasive mosquitoes, only male mosquitoes are released. There are several reasons for this. In particular, male mosquitoes do not feed on blood, do not bite humans and thus, do not contribute to the spread of diseases. Also, they cannot produce offspring, resulting in a decrease in the population growth trend.
Where do the released insects come from?
Insects are collected from the local, wild population and transported to specially designed facilities outside where they are bred and separated into males and females. The males are then sterilised and released.
How are the insects released?
Insects are released from the ground (e.g. by car) or from the air (e.g. by drone). With release, you may notice an increase in the number of mosquitoes, but this is not a cause for concern. Sterile males are not harmful to you, your family and pets, nor to the environment. Male mosquitoes do not bite and sterile mosquitoes cannot reproduce.
What are the advantages of the methodSIT
This method is environmentally friendly, targeting only, the species of interest. It helps to reduce the need to use insecticides and is a solution in cases where the insect population has developed resistance to insecticides or cannot be effectively controlled by other means. Moreover, it is suitable in cases where the insects have a large number of breeding sites and cannot be easily identified, as in the case of Aedesalbopictus and Aedesaegypti. Finally, this method has also been used to reduce the population of the Mediterranean fly and the tsetse fly
Has the SIT method been applied in other countries?[/U]
Yes. Some countries that have successfully implemented this method are Germany, Switzerland, France, Italy, Greece, Brazil, Brazil, China, Cuba, Switzerland and the Dominican Republic. In the case of Greece, the method was applied for the first time in 2018, with results being evident in the first two weeks after the first release.
Should we continue to take preventive measures against mosquito bites?
Preventive measures against mosquito bites should continue to be taken to protect against other mosquito species present in the area with the usual precautions (insect repellents, screens on doors and windows, destruction of hatching sources, etc.e.g. objects in your yard that may retain even a little water, etc.)
(DK)
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