The municipality of Lucena has been declared in an alert status by the Regional Government of Andalusia due to the detection of mosquitoes carrying the West Nile Virus (WNV). This measure raises the monitoring level until next October 3rd, intensifying surveillance within and around the urban center, especially within a 1.5-kilometer radius and in identified points with water accumulation.
The Councilor for Animal Health, Javier Pineda, explained that surveillance will be intensified within the urban center, in areas with traps, and in localized humid spots, recalling that sample collection is carried out periodically at various points in the municipality.
Actions will focus on ponds, tanks, humid areas, and other spaces with potential water accumulations, as these are conducive to mosquito breeding. The monitoring system includes approximately 30-35 traps distributed across different zones, in addition to periodic sampling in other humid areas of the municipal term.
The City Council also calls on individuals, companies, and livestock farms to increase vigilance in facilities with ponds, tanks, or containers, recommending they be kept covered and cleaned, and free of stagnant water.
Citizens are advised to avoid water accumulation in pots, buckets, containers, or gardens, to properly treat ponds and pools, and to periodically check places where water might accumulate unnoticed.
Emphasis is placed on personal protection measures against mosquito bites, especially for the most vulnerable populations: using authorized repellents, wearing light-colored clothing that covers most of the body, installing mosquito nets, and avoiding unnecessary lights in open areas that might attract insects.
The City Council reminds that the alert declaration follows the surveillance protocol established by the Regional Government of Andalusia, and that Lucena is in this situation along with other Andalusian municipalities. The detection corresponds, according to information provided so far, to a sample of virus-carrying mosquitoes, thus current actions focus on reinforcing surveillance, control, and prevention.
The Municipal Corporation will continue to work in coordination with health authorities and will inform the public of any developments in the coming weeks.
