Health warning issued to travellers going to Spain: here’s what you need to know

If you’re planning a trip to Spain, specifically Ibiza this summer, you should know that authorities there have issued a health warning after cases of dengue fever were detected. The cases were confirmed in two German tourists who were on the island last year during the incubation period.

‘Moderate’ risk

According to the Health and Emergencies Coordination Centre, under the Spanish Ministry of Health, officials were alerted to the two cases on February 01, 2023. One was confirmed and the other probable. The health authorities have since classified the forthcoming risk as ‘moderate’.

The health ministry in Spain believes the outbreaks may have started from a tourist who caught the diseases in Mexico and had been living in the same vicinity in Ibiza as the two German tourists. A spokesperson said:

Thanks to surveillance of imported cases, a probable index case was identified, coming from Mexico, who began symptoms on August 11th and remained in the same locality in Ibiza as the two cases described between August 11th and 31st.

Dengue fever

Dengue, also known as dengue fever, is an infection spread by mosquitoes, the NHS says. It's not usually serious and often gets better on its own although in rare cases, some people become severely sick from it.

The UK health authority adds that the disease is more common in parts of Africa, South America and the Carribean. However, the NHS clarifies that there’s a risk of getting dengue at certain times of the year (spring to November) in parts of Southern Europe such as Croatia, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Madeira. According to the NHS:

Dengue does not always cause symptoms. If you do have symptoms, they usually start 4 to 10 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. Some dengue symptoms are similar to flu.

Symptoms include; a high temperature, a severe headache, pain behind your eyes, muscle and joint pain, feeling or being sick and swollen glands.

Read more:

⋙ The food you eat could be the reason you attract mosquitoes and why their bites itch

⋙ West Nile virus: What is the mosquito-borne disease and should we be worried?

⋙ West Nile virus: Mosquito season has lead to the rise of this serious disease

Sources used:

Daily Mail: Warning to British tourists as Ibiza is put on dengue fever alert after holidaymakers catch disease on the island

NHS: Dengue