NILE FEVER: Beware of mosquito bites Culex: Andalusia on alert!

With the arrival of good weather and therefore warmth, countless insects come out in search of blood so that they can feed and also feed on their young. Generally, you should always carry mosquito repellent or other types of products that prevent bites or minimize their itching.

Whether it’s a beach or a mountainous area, it’s inevitable to avoid mosquitoes in the summer. However, like any animal, the bite of some insects can pose a danger to the health of our body.

In fact, often when we are preparing for an exotic trip, we have to go to the doctor to get vaccinated against diseases that are transmitted by certain mosquitoes. Hemorrhagic fever, Lyme disease, dengue, or West Nile fever Among others, these are just some of the pathologies that can be contracted after exposure to insects.

During the Covid pandemic, it has been proven that the movement of people around the world is done without any consideration and away from their natural habitat. For example, it causes tropical diseases that can occur in other parts of the world. The same thing happens with plants and animals that have become established invasive species in some places.

Faced with the growing threat of bites this summer of 2024, the Center for the Coordination of Health Alerts and Emergencies, yes, the one led by Fernando Simon, activated the National Plan for the Prevention, Surveillance and Control of Vector-Borne Diseases. after mosquitoes Aedes, Tigre or Culex have already performed in Spain. In particular, there are concerns that Culex could spread West Nile fever as is already happening in some cases in Andalusia.

Remedies against bites of Culex mosquitoes or Tigre mosquitoes

In this article, we will take advantage of and explain the best practices for minimizing the bites of these insects.

For example, there are some basic ones, such as using repellents, wearing long sleeves when outdoors (although this becomes impossible during the hottest days of summer), installing mosquito nets, and avoiding stagnant water.

Andalusia has already raised the alarm about mosquitoes. Culex. This insect has settled in Spain and since 2020, almost a hundred cases of its infection have been identified. Nile fever and which led to eight deaths in 2020 and three more in 2023. It is in Andalusia that the majority of new cases were identified in 2024, since the marshes of Guadalquivir or, for example, the Ebro delta in Catalonia are ideal places for the spread of this species.

What is West Nile fever?

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food website, West Nile Valley fever is a zoonosis caused by strains of the West Nile virus. This disease is transmitted by mosquitoes and has a mosquito-bird-mosquito transmission cycle. “Humans and horses are considered the definitive hosts of the virus, so they do not carry the disease, but suffer from it.”indicates a ministry warning.

Likewise, birds are a reservoir for the disease and can carry the virus without showing symptoms or allowing the virus to spread. He incubation period This is from 2 to 14 days.