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A plane taking off at sunset(Image: PA)<\/p>\nThe virus can be transmitted to humans via mosquitoesA plane taking off at sunset(Image: PA)<\/p>\n
Spanish health officials have confirmed the presence of the potentially deadly West Nile Virus <\/a>(WNV) in mosquitoes, which have been caught just metres from people\u2019s homes in the Malaga neighbourhood of Tarajal, a region you can fly to from Liverpool. An alert was triggered after lab analysis confirmed the presence of the virus in mosquito samples collected from traps.<\/p>\n The alert targets the Tarajal neighbourhood<\/a> following the detection of WNV in Culex mosquitoes. The same alert level has also been declared in Tahivilla, a district of Tarifa in Cadiz, and in the Sevilla municipality of La Luisiana. The lab findings were submitted to the Andalucian Health and Consumer Affairs Department, which then made the declaration.<\/p>\n According to news site Spanisheye.com: “Following an epidemiological assessment \u2013 taking into account proximity to populated areas and environmental conditions \u2013 the Health Department applied the protocol outlined in Andalucia\u2019s West Nile Virus Surveillance and Vector Control Programme.<\/p>\n “As a result, the affected zones will remain under alert for a minimum of four weeks, or until no further virus activity is detected in mosquitoes, birds, or horses. The alert is set to remain in place until at least November 5, unless earlier clearance is confirmed.”<\/p>\n Although the reservoir of WNV is birds, the virus can be transmitted to humans via mosquitoes. WNV was first detected in the West Nile district of Uganda in 1937. The first large outbreak in Europe occurred in Romania in 1996. In Europe, cases have been identified in several countries<\/a> including France, Italy and Portugal.<\/p>\n To date, there are no known cases of locally acquired WNV in the UK, although there have been a small number of travel-associated cases. West Nile virus (WNV) belongs to a family of viruses called Flaviviridae, along with other viruses such as dengue and yellow fever.<\/p>\n WNV circulates from birds to mosquitoes through bird-biting mosquitoes, known as enzootic vectors, notably Culex pipiens. The probability of a human outbreak of WNV in the UK is currently considered, at most, very low, according to guidance by Gov.uk.<\/p>\n The incubation period from mosquito bite to onset of WNV disease symptoms is typically 2\u20136 days but ranges from 2\u201314 days and may be longer in immunocompromised patients. West Nile virus can result in mild illness with flu-like symptoms<\/a> or severe illness that affects the central nervous system or results in hospitalization or death.<\/p>\n