Deadly Dengue Fever Fear At Holiday Hotspot

Holidaymakers at the party hotspot Ibiza have been warned they could be struck down with deadly dengue fever.

Officials on the Spanish island – known for its wild nightlife – say up to six German tourists were infected with the bug between May and November last year.

Now Spain’s Ministry of Health has warned there is a “moderate” risk that holidaymakers could be infected in this year’s summer season.

Spain’s announcement – obtained by Newsflash on 28th February – came after German news reports about tourists being struck down by the bug after visiting Ibiza.

One confirmed case was a 27-year-old woman who was in Ibiza last August with her partner and their 14-month-old daughter.

All three had symptoms on 31st August, but tests were only performed on the woman who was diagnosed with dengue.

Another case involves a 37-year-old woman who – with her partner and 12-year-old son – also showed symptoms of the bug on the last day of her October stay.

Graph shows the cases of Dengue fever in Mallorca, Ibiza, Menorca, Spain, from 2015 to 2022, undated. Germany has confirmed in February, 2023, up to six German tourists would have been infected with the disease last summer during their vacations on the Balearic island of Ibiza. (Ministerio de Sanidad de Espana/Newsflash)

Spanish health officials believe the bug could have been spread by a holidaymaker from Mexico who only displayed symptoms after arriving on Ibiza.

Spain’s Ministry of Health said in the statement obtained by Newsflash: “One of the potential vectors of dengue is the Aedes albopictus mosquito, present throughout the area, the Spanish Mediterranean and the Balearic Islands and also in some areas of the interior and north of the country.

“On the island of Ibiza it was first detected in 2014 and since then, it has been considered spread among the island.

“After learning about the cases, the authorities of the Balearic Islands have planned actions such as pertinent surveillance and vector control and also communication and information to the public, to be carried out before and during the start of the vector activity season.”

Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne tropical disease that can cause fever, headaches, vomiting, muscle and joint pains and skin rashes.

Most people recover after a few days, but it can be fatal if it is left untreated, if the patient has low blood pressure, or if they are very young or very old.

All of the German tourists are understood to have recovered.


To find out more about the author, editor or agency that supplied this story – please click below.
Story By: Joseph GolderSub-EditorMarija Stojkoska, Agency: Newsflash

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