HEALTH bosses have placed a Costa del Sol town under alert as a potentially deadly mosquito-borne disease continues to spread across Andalucia.
Andalucian authorities have urged residents of Cartama, Malaga province, to ‘avoid mosquito bites’ after a local insect trap caught a mosquito infected with West Nile virus.
The regional health ministry placed the town on alert on Tuesday, with the warning set to remain in place until September 22.
READ MORE: West Nile Virus alert deactivated in Fuengirola and Mijas as cases across Andalucia climb to 52
Along with Campanilla, Cartama is one of two towns in Malaga province where infected mosquitoes have been caught, prompting authorities to order the preventative measure.
Though no human cases have so far been detected on the Costa del Sol, a total of 52 people have been infected with West Nile virus across Sevilla and Huelva provinces.
A total of 27 Andalucian towns have been placed under alert, most of them in Sevilla province, as 19 people required hospitalisation due to the disease and one man died from the virus in late July.
Fuengirola and Mijas, in Malaga province, had previously been placed under alert, but the warning was lifted on Tuesday after officials detected no infections over weeks of surveillance.
Andalucian authorities have been battling the outbreak by stepping up mosquito-control measures, launching public awareness campaigns and providing information through pharmacies and health centres.
Residents of areas under alert are advised to:
- Use registered mosquito repellents
- Wear light-coloured clothing that covers the body
- Avoid strong perfumes and scents
- Install mosquito nets
- Use household insecticides or environmental repellents
- Turn off unnecessary lights, which can attract mosquitoes
West Nile virus mainly spreads to people through the bites of mosquitoes, which typically become infected after feeding on birds carrying the virus.
Most people develop no symptoms or only a mild flu-like illness, but a small proportion develop serious neurological conditions such as encephalitis or meningitis, which can be deadly.
There is no specific treatment or vaccine for West Nile virus in humans, with most cases resolving on their own.
Severe infections, however, require hospital treatment to manage symptoms and complications.
The disease does not normally spread from person to person.
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