Ibiza is hit by a plague of mosquitoes FOUR times bigger than normal after the insects bred in hotel pools during lockdown
by Rita Sobot For Mailonline- Untreated swimming pools have led to rise of large mosquitoes in Ibiza
- Health chiefs say many are second homes, with owners stuck in other countries
- Council has asked for public's help to get rid of the plague of insects
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
Ibiza is being hit by a plague of mosquitoes four times bigger than usual as a result of an unexpected spin-off from the coronavirus pandemic.
Health chiefs on the island believe the pests are coming from swimming pools in hotels which have been closed under Spain's State of Emergency, as well as private swimming pools in unoccupied villas.
They say many are second homes and owners have not been able to travel to Ibiza because of travel restrictions.
As a result, the pools have been untreated for several months and have attracted huge plagues of the common mosquito and the more dangerous Asian tiger mosquito.
Ibiza council's environmental management department has asked for the public's help to get rid of the plague being suffered in many areas of the island and estimated to be four times bigger than normally expected at this time of the year.
Health experts believe the species is breeding in public and private pools, which this year have not received in many cases a treatment of purification and chlorination.
They are asking pool owners to 'start these purification systems and as soon as possible the better.'
Due to the situation of confinement, there are citizens who have not been able to go to their second homes, at the same time that the hotels have not been able to open their doors.
This means the process of chlorination and purification of swimming pools has not started as it usually does at this time and that the mosquito population on the island is four times larger than normal, 'said a spokesman.
The department says the pools must be treated with urgency to avoid 'a real public health problem.
Ibiza's island council is making plans to deal with the situation, as are individual authorities, but points out that it cannot act on private land. It has also warned that lava can be produced affecting a radius of 1.5 square kilometres.