Helicopter Aerial Spraying to Combat Mosquitoes Begins in Orestiada, Greece

A three‑day aerial insecticide operation started on 20 July 2026 in the municipality of Orestiada, Evros, as part of the Eastern Macedonia and Thrace region’s mosquito‑control programme. The operation uses a helicopter to apply an ultra‑low‑volume (ULV) aerosol targeting adult mosquitoes, following approvals from the Ministry of Health.

Regional health officials said the spraying is intended to reduce nuisance biting and lower the risk of West Nile virus transmission, noting that no local cases have been recorded to date. Director of Public Health Loukas Georgiou remarked, “We have seen a significant improvement in mosquito populations compared to previous years,” while Deputy Health Director Konstantinos Venetidis added, “Mosquitoes are one of the biggest challenges for the region.”