6 May, 2024 @ 15:06
1 min read

Disease warning in Spain: Malaria, dengue and leishmaniasis cases are expected to grow due to climate change, says expert – after causing multiple deaths in 2023

MORE than 100 cases of Malaria were detected in Andalucia last year, official figures have revealed. 

The southernmost region is at risk of seeing a surge in such insect-borne diseases amid a rise in temperatures caused by global warming. 

This year, for example, has seen mosquitos arrive months earlier than usual due to the ideal combination of humidity caused by recent rains and high temperatures. 

Figures from the Junta this week show there were a total of 101 registered malaria cases in 2023, plus 47 dengue fever infections and 76 cases of leishmaniasis. 

READ MORE: How eating pistachios daily can improve brain function and memory

Mosquitos have arrived earlier than usual this year

There were also multiple cases of west Nile virus last year – while at least two have been confirmed so far this year. 

These diseases caused three deaths in Andalucia in 2023; An 81-year-old man who died of leishmanasis, a 68-year-old woman who died of malaria and an 84-year-old woman who died of west Nile fever. 

In response, Andaluica has launched a special ‘surveillance and control’ team – dubbed PEVA – that will monitor insect arrivals in the region and advise on how to stop such diseases from growing.

PEVA said: “Andalusia is a large territory, with a very dispersed population, a great variety and richness of ecosystems and a geographical location that constitutes a natural border with third countries, making it prone to insects transmitting diseases, as well as being sensitive to climate change.”

Head researcher at the Doñana Biological Station, Jordi Figuerola, told Malaga Hoy that malaria cases are nothing new in Spain, counting around 800 per year. 

He explained that these are ‘imported cases of travellers returning from areas where these types of insects spread these diseases, since it is very difficult for the circumstances to occur for it to be transmitted to other people, but it can happen.’ 

Doñana researcher Jordi Fuegirola
Malaria cells (CREDIT: Shutterstock)

He added: “For example, in Catalunya there were recently two cases of dengue in people who had not travelled. 

“Right now, South America is experiencing a greater number of dengue cases and it is more than foreseeable that they will reach our country.”

He also said there has been a ‘significant’ outbreak of dengue fever in Madeira that could reach Gran Canaria ‘and are beginning to be seen in the capital.’

Figuerola said the increasing mobility of people and the rise in global temperatures will only ‘favour’ an increase in cases. 

So how do you keep yourself safe? 

Avoid leaving containers with water or liquid outside on your balcony, as that is where mosquitos like to reproduce. 

Any puddles of pools of water should be removed. Piles of damp clothes or towels left outside can also attract mozzies. 

Town halls should also focus on fumigating drains and other areas where the pests are known to gather, says Figuerola.

Laurence Dollimore

Laurence Dollimore is a Spanish-speaking, NCTJ-trained journalist with almost a decade’s worth of experience.
The London native has a BA in International Relations from the University of Leeds and and an MA in the same subject from Queen Mary University London.
He earned his gold star diploma in multimedia journalism at the prestigious News Associates in London in 2016, before immediately joining the Olive Press at their offices on the Costa del Sol.
After a five-year stint, Laurence returned to the UK to work as a senior reporter at the Mail Online, where he remained for two years before coming back to the Olive Press as Digital Editor in 2023.
He continues to work for the biggest newspapers in the UK, who hire him to investigate and report on stories in Spain.
These include the Daily Mail, Telegraph, Mail Online, Mail on Sunday and The Sun and Sun Online.
He has broken world exclusives on everything from the Madeleine McCann case to the anti-tourism movement in Tenerife.

GOT A STORY? Contact newsdesk@theolivepress.es or call +34 951 273 575 Twitter: @olivepress

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Seville Atmosphere Eintracht Frankfurt V Rangers Uefa Europa League Final
Previous Story

Sevilla locals blast ‘toxic tourist invasion’ that is ‘destroying’ the city due to ‘impossible prices’ and ‘jammed streets’ – as they demand the number of Airbnb homes to be reduced

Next Story

Irish tourists ‘beat up two police officers’ in Marbella after ‘refusing to turn their music down during 5am party at their holiday flat’

Latest from Andalucia

Go toTop

More From The Olive Press