Stagnant water within the boundaries of the Metropolis building site in Gżira is being drained after environmental health officers were alerted to the situation by residents.

The measure is part of the health authorities’ efforts to curb breeding grounds for mosquitoes in a series of preventive measures linked to the alarm raised by the Zika virus earlier this year.

An aerial photo of the Metropolis site in Gżira published in the Times of Malta some days ago caused concern among readers, since it showed pools of stagnant water at the bottom of the excavated site.

A spokeswoman for the Health Parliamentary Secretariat said the authorities had received a report on the matter at the beginning of March and an inspection ensued which confirmed the accumulation of stagnant water.

“At the time of inspection the Metropolis office was closed and a nuisance report was issued to the directors to drain the water without delay,” she said.

A second inspection followed two weeks later, and works to drain the site were in progress, she added.

The spokeswoman said a third inspection was carried out in April after enquiries by this newspaper and works were in their final stages. “Another inspection will be carried out in the next few days to assess the works done so far and report whether further action is required or whether this case will be considered closed,” she said.

It is illegal for anyone to keep stagnant water, and the authorities can initiate legal action if remedial action is not taken within the stipulated time-frame.

Complaints over the accumulation of stagnant water are investigated by officials from the Environmental Health Directorate.

Mosquitoes and their breeding sites, such as standing water, pose a significant risk factor for Zika virus infection.

The spokeswoman said that together with councils, environment health officers have been mapping the islands for potential breeding sites for mosquitoes.

“This exercise includes mapping and inspections of unused quarries, public gardens and sites where stagnant water may collect,” she said.

[attach id=501511 size="large"]This aerial photo alarmed Times of Malta readers. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi[/attach]

The Zika virus creates no major complications for healthy adults but it has been linked to birth defects in babies bornfrom mothers who contracted the virus during pregnancy.

The alarm was initially raised in Brazil, where a string of cases were reported of babies born with their heads smaller than expected. This condition is known as microcephaly and can occur because a baby’s brain has not developed properly during pregnancy or has stopped growing after birth.

The World Health Organisation declared the Zika virus to be a matter of public health emergency and of international concern last February.

The recommended course of action included the eradication and control of mosquitoes and their breeding grounds.

The Zika virus

Zika virus disease is caused by a virus transmitted primarily by Aedes mosquitoes. People with Zika virus disease can have symptoms including mild fever, skin rash, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise or headache. These symptoms normally last from two to seven days.

There is no specific treatment or vaccine currently available. The best form of prevention is protection against mosquito bites.

The virus is known to circulate in Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific.

Source: WHO

To report stagnant water

The public is encouraged to report accumulations of stagnant water in privately owned areas directly to the Environmental Health Directorate on 2133 7333 between 7.30am and 3.30pm, Monday to Friday, or by e-mail to complaints.ph@gov.mt.