ARCHIVED - Two Alhama residents are the first to contract dengue from tiger mosquitoes in Spain

The infection is thought to have taken place in Murcia, Cádiz or Madrid

For a number of years now medical experts and naturalists have been warning that the Asian tiger mosquito is establishing itself in the Region of Murcia and other areas of Spain, particularly along the Mediterranean coast, and the dangerous implications for public health were underlined on Tuesday with confirmation that in August two residents of Alhama de Murcia contracted dengue fever, the only possible source being mosquito bites.

The victims, a man and a woman in their fifties, share a home in Alhama de Murcia and are relatives (not a couple), according to the information provided by José Carlos Vicente, the head of the Public Health department in the regional government. They are now fit and well after receiving treatment.

They presented themselves at the hospital of La Arrixaca in El Palmar at the end of August, shortly after travelling within the Region of Murcia and in Madrid and Cádiz, leading to the conclusion that their infection with dengue fever took place in Spain rather than during a stay in a “danger zone” outside the EU.

Dengue cannot be transmitted from one human to another, so it is not possible that one of the patients contracted it from the other, and they may even have been bitten by the same insect carrying the virus. However, it was not until 4^th October that the dengue infection was confirmed in the blood samples which were sent to Madrid for analysis, and the results of tests carried out on a third family member who accompanied them on their holiday are still pending.

Their symptoms included a high fever, which is typical of early dengue along with headaches, vomiting, muscle and joint pains and a characteristic skin rash, and in general the effects are similar to those of a severe bout of flu. However, in rare cases it can develop into a haemorrhagic fever or dangerously low blood pressure which can be life-threatening.

It is not clear exactly where these two residents of Alhama contracted dengue, but that, according to José Carlos Vicente, although it is important for epidemiological analysis, is not the most important point. What matters is that these cases, the first which can be stated with certainty to have been caused by infection in Spain, illustrate that the tiger mosquito is now a real and permanent health risk in this country rather than merely an exotic visitor.

This should hardly come as a surprise, since sightings of the Aedes albopictus species are now so common as to be almost completely unremarkable in southern Spain, and cases of dengue infections have already been reported in France, Italy and Greece, as well as others of similar viruses such as chikungunya. However, with temperatures and humidity dropping as the autumn sets in the probability of more infections over the coming months will be low before the risk increases again next summer.

In the Region of Murcia the presence of tiger mosquitos has been confirmed in 24 of the 45 municipalities, and the authorities recognize that there is no way to halt its spread, although precautions can be taken to remove likely breeding grounds. It is not possible to entirely eliminate all stagnant water from the Region, but on a very local level steps can be taken to reduce the chances of the insects proliferating in gardens and on terraces: for example, after the rain which fell in most parts of the Costa Cálida on Tuesday, efforts can be made to empty any small pools or puddles which have accumulated in flowerpots, pet food and drinking bowls or other areas where mosquitos could breed and lay eggs.

In addition, the use of mosquito nets on windows is recommended, as are insect repellent sprays, while medical staff recommend that any bites should be treated with disinfectant, and that if bites prove unusually irritating medical advice should be sought.

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