West Nile in Europe

Canadian Girl

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Dec 4, 2012
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I was wondering if Greece and Italy spray for West Nile virus? I know they have had some issues in the past several years because of the hotter weather. Would the sites near the ports be a risk for mosquitoes in early summer and if so, what bug spray products would be best to take? I know a lot of tourist spots in North America do spray so there is less chance of being bitten.
 
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I was wondering if Greece and Italy spray for West Nile virus? I know they have had some issues in the past several years because of the hotter weather. Would the sites near the ports be a risk for mosquitoes in early summer and if so, what bug spray products would be best to take? I know a lot of tourist spots in North America do spray so there is less chance of being bitten.
I’m curious about tourist places that spray for mosquitoes in North America as I’ve never heard of this and we travel a lot. Do you have any examples? The only place I’ve ever heard of that does this is Disney World.

I can tell you that we’ve traveled to Italy and Greece in the summertime and it never even crossed our minds to take bug spray along and we never received a single mosquito bite. Honestly we don’t worry about mosquitoes at all unless we’re going to a wooded area.
 
I’m curious about tourist places that spray for mosquitoes in North America as I’ve never heard of this and we travel a lot. Do you have any examples? The only place I’ve ever heard of that does this is Disney World.

I can tell you that we’ve traveled to Italy and Greece in the summertime and it never even crossed our minds to take bug spray along and we never received a single mosquito bite. Honestly we don’t worry about mosquitoes at all unless we’re going to a wooded area.

I know a lot of places in Cape Cod sprayed last year because of EEEV.
 
Our area sprays pretty regularly. The insane test to see if you can request a special spot treatment in the area is for someone to stand outside and be bitten so many times within a set timeframe. Its someone that is paid to do this test, you cant just go outside and then claim your received X bites/ hour.
 

Interesting! So who is paying for the spraying? Local businesses? I have some friends who spray their yard (her husband owns the company who does it and they live right next to a swampy area) but I've never heard of general public areas being sprayed.
 
Interesting! So who is paying for the spraying? Local businesses? I have some friends who spray their yard (her husband owns the company who does it and they live right next to a swampy area) but I've never heard of general public areas being sprayed.

I am going to answer as if you are asking me. I am assuming the county because I believe that unincorporated areas get sprayed as well, maybe not ever country road but the more traversed areas. To ask for a special spot treatment of your area you contact the town. These free sprays are just a truck going down the street. There are private businesses that offer the service as well but these are people with backpack sprayers that walk your whole property.

After Hurricane Florence we had horrible mosquito, hummingbird sized. There were concerns of disease so about one month after the hurricane they bombed us by a low flying plane. They used the term dusk to indicate when they would start, which I am thinking they must have started early because they hit over us about 15 minutes before dusk is listed on the Weather Channel app. We were out walking. Threw my little dog under my shirt and we ran home as quickly as possible trying not to breath, fortunately only a few houses away. The next morning the streets were littered with butterflys. It was sad.
 
I am going to answer as if you are asking me. I am assuming the county because I believe that unincorporated areas get sprayed as well, maybe not ever country road but the more traversed areas. To ask for a special spot treatment of your area you contact the town. These free sprays are just a truck going down the street. There are private businesses that offer the service as well but these are people with backpack sprayers that walk your whole property.

After Hurricane Florence we had horrible mosquito, hummingbird sized. There were concerns of disease so about one month after the hurricane they bombed us by a low flying plane. They used the term dusk to indicate when they would start, which I am thinking they must have started early because they hit over us about 15 minutes before dusk is listed on the Weather Channel app. We were out walking. Threw my little dog under my shirt and we ran home as quickly as possible trying not to breath, fortunately only a few houses away. The next morning the streets were littered with butterflys. It was sad.
Thanks for the response! That sounds pretty gross!
 
I live in a Evanston IL just outside Chicago. Our town sprays every summer, usually going through the alleys. But we still need bug spray if you sit outside in the summer or at least my husband does. He swears bugs are always around but they rarely bother me. I do tend to roll my eyes a bit.
 
There were some warnings about West Nile in 2018 and 2019 in Greece but apparently there wasn’t any in the previous two years. Hopefully this will be an off year too.
 
I live in a Evanston IL just outside Chicago. Our town sprays every summer, usually going through the alleys. But we still need bug spray if you sit outside in the summer or at least my husband does. He swears bugs are always around but they rarely bother me. I do tend to roll my eyes a bit.
That's like my husband and me. Up north and in the midwest I get attacked. These bugs down south dont like me! LOL
 
Our town( north of Columbus, Ohio) also sprays every summer. Whatever they use must work because I don't see too many mosquitoes around here. Grew up in Oklahoma and even with bug spray on I would get a ton of bites, now I never get any and don't use any kind of spray on myself. We even have woods with a small stream behind our house.
 
I live in the northeast. I also live in a town that has alot of protected wetlands etc. And while Cape Cod may spray, especially due to EEE vs. west nile, not every town sprays. It is expensive and it is a cost incurred by the town. Lots of bug spray and stay indoors at dusk in our town. I am traveling to Greece and Italy in June. I am not aware of any issues, but perhaps I will pack the bug spray. Lord knows we have enough of it LOL
 
I live in the northeast. I also live in a town that has alot of protected wetlands etc. And while Cape Cod may spray, especially due to EEE vs. west nile, not every town sprays. It is expensive and it is a cost incurred by the town. Lots of bug spray and stay indoors at dusk in our town. I am traveling to Greece and Italy in June. I am not aware of any issues, but perhaps I will pack the bug spray. Lord knows we have enough of it LOL
I agree! We're in MA. Our town pretty much only sprays in late August/September due to EEE fears. And they're mostly just spraying around the sports fields. This past year, they had changed the game times to avoid night games for a while.

DH and I will watch the various home shows, see all these beautiful outside living spaces...and wonder...do they not have mosquitos there? Where is this magical place? Come dusk there are just sooo many mosquitos here in the summer! (And mosquitos love the kids and I!) One of these days I'd love to enclose our front porch so I could sit 'outside' without being bothered! Lol, except all our discretionary money is going to vacations!
 
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I agree! We're in MA. Our town pretty much only sprays in late August/September due to EEE fears. And they're mostly just spraying around the sports fields. This past year, they had changed the game times to avoid night games for a while.

DH and I will watch the various home shows, see all these beautiful outside living spaces...and wonder...do they not have mosquitos there? Where is this magical place? Come dusk there are just sooo many mosquitos here in the summer! (And mosquitos love the kids and I!) One of these days I'd love to enclose our front porch so I could sit 'outside' without being bothered! Lol, except all our discretionary money is going to vacations!

So true! Outdoor living rooms are outdoor dining rooms in our neck of the woods- for mosquitos! We are lucky enough to have a small deck off the back that we had screened in. Years back we took out the screens and replaced them with casement windows- so a semi 3 season porch. Thankfully we have a place we can be to avoid those blood suckers!
 
Greece and Italy are dry Mediterranean climates. I doubt if they get any rain in the Summer at all.
Not favorable to mosquitoes.
 

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