The Ministry of Environmental Protection informed Hai Pa News Corporation:
Against the background of the state of emergency and the war of iron swords, the Ministry of Environmental Protection publishes information and instructions regarding the prevention of risks from sanitary pests, so that they do not constitute a nuisance or endanger public health and the environment; Among the prominent possible pests: mosquitoes, sand flies, rats, house flies, flesh flies and cockroaches.

Dr. Shai Reicher, Director of the Pest and Pest Control Division at the Ministry of Environmental Protection:
"Even in these difficult and challenging days of fighting, it is important to pay attention to the environmental hazards that may arise due to the unusual situation throughout the country and especially in the south. Maintaining a clean and orderly environment as much as possible, as well as adhering to basic and available personal protection rules, will help reduce the hazards of sanitary pests and protect public health."
The goal: to prevent environmental and health damage
Following the fighting these days and the state of emergency we are in, the Ministry of Environmental Protection publishes information and instructions with the aim of preventing environmental damage and reducing, as much as possible, possible risks to public health. Environmental hazards that are not dealt with effectively and quickly, may become a source of significant and long-term environmental and health damage down the road.
Therefore, care must be taken to perform simple and readily available actions in order to reduce the health risk that may be caused by unwanted exposure to sanitary pests.
The basic principles to protect public health are valid at all times and on these days in particular:
- Maintaining the cleanliness and hygiene of the living or staying environment (with an emphasis on waste disposal and drying stagnant water).
- Closing entrances against the penetration of insects and rodents into the living environment (including the use of nets and traps).
- Applying insect repellents to exposed body parts and clothing. Applying the substance to the body must be renewed several times a day, depending on the level of presence of the various pests in the environment.
- Wearing long clothes, preferably in light colors. There is no need to wear thick clothes, even thin fabric will help significantly reduce the risk of being stung.
The main pests whose number is feared to increase
These are the main pests whose number is feared to increase due to the broad and complex security incident we are experiencing these days. The pests are presented in order of importance according to the fear that they will be a nuisance or a hazard to a person.
Mosquitoes:
- general: Mosquitoes lay eggs in clean or polluted standing water, even a small amount of water is enough to allow unwanted reproduction. The development time of the mosquito from an egg to an adult is about 10 days. Adult mosquitoes live a few weeks. Only the mosquito bites, because it needs blood for the development of the eggs.
- Potential damage: Mosquitoes can bite and transmit diseases such as West Nile fever.
- prevention: Drying and draining of stagnant water, repairing water leaks and preventing unnecessary water flows.
- Defense: Long clothing (preferably light colored) and use of mosquito repellents on exposed body parts (mainly face, neck and hands) and on clothes - it is recommended to apply several times a day. As long as you sleep outside the building, it is recommended to sleep with long clothes and socks. It is advisable to install nets on the windows and doors of buildings, and when staying in an open area it is recommended to use nets.

sand fly:
- general: The sandflies lay eggs in the ground, so it is very difficult to locate their eggs. Strong vibrations of the ground, for example as a result of a lot of heavy vehicle traffic, causes an increased activity of the sand flies. The sandflies are active mainly in the evening and at night and close to the ground. Only the sand fly bites people because it needs blood for the eggs to develop.
- Potential damage: Sandflies can bite and transmit Leishmaniasis of the skin of the "Rose of Jericho" type.
- Defense: Long clothing and use of mosquito repellents on exposed body parts (mainly face, neck and hands) and on clothes - it is recommended to apply several times a day. As long as you sleep outside the building, it is recommended to sleep with long clothes and socks. It is advisable to install nets on the windows and doors of buildings, and when staying in an open area it is recommended to use nets.

Rats:
- general: Omnivores (vegetable, meat and processed food). The size of the population depends on the area, the hiding places and the amount of food available to them. The rats live mainly in the sewage systems and old/ruined buildings. The rats are active mainly during the hours of darkness, but loud noises and movements near their hiding places may disrupt their routine activity hours.
- Potential damage: Rats can bite and also transmit through human contact with their secretions diseases such as typhus and other intestinal diseases.
- prevention: Covering food and keeping it in rigid and closed containers, this is because rats have a tendency to gnaw materials that prevent them from accessing food. Disposing of organic waste in closed garbage containers or closed composters. Garbage removal to designated waste sites.

The house fly:
- general: The flies breed in moist organic matter in a state of decay or fermentation, such as unprocessed animal manure, as well as rotting fruits and vegetables. They alternately eat food intended for humans and even excrement.
- Potential damage: Flies can transmit intestinal diseases due to contamination of exposed food.
- prevention: Covering food and keeping it in closed bags or containers. Disposing of organic waste in closed garbage containers or closed composters. Garbage removal to designated waste sites.
- Defense: Installing nets on windows and doors of buildings and using nets when staying in the open or in buildings where the flies are a nuisance. You can use traps designed to catch flies or use accessories that help keep flies away.

bluebottle:
- general: Flesh flies are mainly found around carcasses or near excrement, on flowers and near ground nests of bees or wasps. A characteristic sign of the family: the maggots hatch from the eggs at the moment they are laid or even a little before.
- Potential damage: Flesh flies can transmit diseases to humans, mainly due to contamination of exposed food.
- Defense: Maintain a clean and hygienic environment. To maintain the quality of the food, it is important to handle the meat properly (covering, cooling, etc.). Meat waste should be sealed in plastic bags and sent to closed containers.

Cockroaches:
- general: Cockroaches are insects known for their durability and ability to adapt to a wide range of environmental and living conditions. Cockroaches are omnivores that are active mainly during the hours of darkness.
- Potential damage: Cockroaches can spread disease and contaminate food.
- prevention: Covering food and keeping it in closed bags or containers. Organic waste should be sealed in plastic bags and sent to closed garbage containers or closed composters. Garbage removal to designated waste sites. Drying and draining stagnant water, including repairing water leaks and preventing unnecessary flows of water.

Last night I even saw a winged wasp.