Malaria fears after floods

Nistru’s waters began retreating from the Vadul lui Voda beach, which became entirely submerged on Wednesday, but authorities have signaled another potential threat – the flooding has created a perfect environment for malaria-carrying mosquitoes, Info-Prim Neo reports. ”We don’t rule out the possibility that mosquitoes might cause an outburst of malaria”, Chisinau’s chief doctor Iurie Pinzaru said today at an off-site municipal meeting held in the suburban town of Vadul lui Voda. Iurie Pinzaru also said swimming in Nistru and in other bodies of water within the municipality was unsafe and thus forbidden. He also advised replacing the sand on the Vadul lui Voda beach because it was too polluted. But Eliferie Haruta, the head of the municipal department responsible for green and leisure areas, said he saw no point in replacing the sand since flooding was very common on this beach. After the waters retreat, the beach will be plowed and harrowed as the changing booths and the shower cabins will be disinfected. Vadul lui Voda Mayor Iurie Onofriciuc says that although there isn’t any immediate threat of another flood, emergency instructions are still in place for the 20 businesses working along the beach and 6 summer camps nearby. Iurie Bustiuc, the head of the Emergencies Service, says the Vadul lui Voda beach is one of the most vulnerable areas along the Nistru and to avoid other floods a 500 meter long and 1 meter high dam will be built here. Chisinau Mayor Dorin Chirtoaca said that businesses should share the costs or contribute in any other form to the construction.