Tourists heading to Spain and Italy are urged to exercise caution following the detection of the first cases of West Nile virus this year, a mosquito-borne illness that can sometimes be fatal.
One individual in Seville, Spain, and another in Modena, Italy, have contracted the virus. According to Manchester Evening News, the West Nile virus has been identified in mosquitoes in the Italian province of Chieti.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has warned that these cases are locally acquired, not imported from tropical regions. About one in five people infected with West Nile virus develop symptoms such as fever, pain, rashes, and vomiting. Severe cases can lead to seizures, muscle weakness, and paralysis.
ECDC data from last year reported 713 local cases of West Nile virus in Europe, including 67 fatalities. The virus was detected in nine countries and spread to 22 new regions where it had not previously been found.
Tourists have also been warned about the rapid increase in dengue fever cases across Europe, attributed to the spread of Asian tiger mosquitoes, which carry the disease. Popular tourist destinations such as Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary, Germany, Greece, Spain, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, France, and Croatia have been affected.
Furthermore, the Zika virus, also transmitted by tiger mosquitoes, has been detected in mosquitoes across 26 European countries, including Spain’s Majorca and Menorca. Like dengue fever, Zika poses a significant health risk.
Travelers are advised to take preventive measures against mosquito bites and stay informed about health alerts in their destinations.
