Health authorities published a risk assessment report following the ‘unprecedented’ rise in West Nile virus-related meningoencephalitis cases this year. The risk of infection is determined to be ‘moderate in areas where WNV infections have been detected in mosquitoes, equids, birds and/or humans during the current or previous seasons, especially in western Andalusia in the surroundings of the Guadalquivir marshes and the Janda region in Cádiz, Extremadura and the wetlands of the Ebro Delta in the province of Tarragona’, particularly from late summer through early autumn, but ‘very low in the rest of Spain and between December and March’.
Advice for travellers
Most human WNV infections (70-80%) are mild, subclinical or asymptomatic, but around 1-in-150 cases involve potentially severe neuroinvasive disease. The virus is transmitted by Culex mosquitoes, which feed mainly around dawn and dusk. While the risk of infection for most travellers is generally low, those visiting regions during the peak transmission season should take measures to avoid mosquito bites. Read more on WNV.
Before you travel, call Travelvax Australia’s telephone advisory service on 1300 360 164 (toll-free from landlines) for country-specific advice and information. You can also make an appointment at your nearest Travelvax clinic to obtain vaccinations, medication to prevent or treat illness, and accessories for your journey.