Recently, there have been reports of the spread of Asian tiger mosquitoes along the Sava River, which are gradually expanding into the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina. These mosquitoes can transmit the dangerous West Nile fever, which in some cases may lead to fatal outcomes. Weather conditions have been particularly favorable for mosquito development, especially near river areas and locations with overgrown vegetation, causing difficulties for a large number of residents and tourists in certain parts of the country.
After receiving 1,826 liters of the insecticide Neopitroid Premium from the Institute of Public Health of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Federal Civil Protection Administration (FUCZ) carried out mosquito control measures in the Posavina and Tuzla cantons. The insecticide had remained from the ground-based adult mosquito treatment campaign conducted during the floods in 2014.
In accordance with the conclusions from the 21st regular session of the Federal Civil Protection Headquarters, cantonal Institutes of Public Health in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina were tasked with submitting their plans and requirements for implementing DDD measures (disinfection, disinsection, and deratization) for the spring of 2016. Based on the Operational Plan for disinsection across the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which had been delivered to all cantonal Institutes of Public Health, FUCZ contacted the institutes again between February and April 2016 requesting updated plans for mosquito control activities in all cantons.
Following these communications and the proposal from FUCZ that it possessed the necessary equipment and vehicles for mosquito spraying, the Institutes of Public Health of the Posavina and Tuzla cantons submitted their disinsection plans along with the required quantities of insecticide. On May 23, 2016, FUCZ teams, in cooperation with authorized personnel from the Posavina Canton Public Health Institute, began implementing the Operational Disinsection Plan for the area.
FUCZ provided two spraying machines, the insecticide itself, and four trained staff members, while the Public Health Institute supplied the solvent required for the insecticide and ensured the presence of one of its representatives during the spraying process. Mosquito control operations in the Posavina Canton were completed on June 2, 2016. Spraying operations in the Tuzla Canton were carried out by FUCZ personnel under the supervision of experts from the Tuzla Canton Institute of Public Health, with assistance from the Cantonal Civil Protection Administration and municipal civil protection offices. The activities were conducted from June 7 to June 9 using 260 liters of Neopitroid Premium. On June 7, spraying was carried out in the municipality of Gradačac, at the Hazna and Vidara lakes, and in the municipality of Srebrenik up to Šićki Brod. The following day, mosquito control measures were implemented in Kalesija, Živinice, Doboj-Istok, Gračanica, Lukavac, and at Lake Modrac. On the final day, operations were conducted in the municipality of Teočak and around Lake Sniježnica.
Experts emphasize that the measures do not mean that mosquitoes will completely disappear from treated areas, but their population will be significantly reduced.
