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Warning To Holidaymakers Heading To Spain As 18th Century Gum-bleeding Virus Strikes In Party Hotspot
HOLIDAY makers heading to Spain have been warned of the spread of a virus that causes vomiting, bleeding gums and pain behind the eyes.
Two cases of dengue fever, thought to have been acquired locally in the country's party capital, Ibiza, have sparked concerns that the virus is spreading secretly.
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Virologists say Brits need to be aware of the potential spread of dengue fever in SpainCredit: Getty3
The mosquito-borne disease is becoming more apparent in EuropeCredit: AlamyScientists fear this means dozens more people have been infected unknowingly.
The debilitating disease, dubbed 'breakbone fever' because of how painful it is, is spread by mosquitoes and is more common in tropical areas, such as Africa, Asia, and Central and South America.
However, the disease-ridden critters are becoming more common in Europe, with recorded cases in Italy, France and Spain.
Dengue infects up to 400 million people and kills 40,000 - and cases are rising.
For example, 2019 saw the greatest number of dengue fever cases ever recorded, at 5.2 million—almost twice as many as the previous year.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) chiefs have called it the world's fastest-spreading tropical disease and say it is a "pandemic threat".
Virologists say Brits need to be aware of the potential spread of dengue fever in Spain and other European countries.
The two cases reported in Ibiza in 2022 and were German tourists who both travelled separately.
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Mum's £2k BBL ended in agony as killer infection 'cut off blood supply to leg'Neither of the two cases was proven to be locally acquired, researchers wrote in the Euro Surveillance journal.
But the evidence suggests both were caught in the country, the authors said.
Other possible casesWriting in the journal, experts said evidence suggests "the most likely transmission was through mosquito bites, but other possibilities cannot be totally excluded".
They added: "Although the source case assured that they had not been bitten by mosquitoes and that they had spent the entire symptomatic period at home, it is possible that the bites went unnoticed.
"The lack of detection of additional cases in Ibiza residents, especially during the temporal gap between the two German cases, suggests that some cases probably linked to this outbreak may have gone undetected.
"It is very important to increase the awareness of detecting dengue cases in Spain and other European countries."
In 2022, there were 71 cases of locally acquired dengue in Europe, the same number recorded over the previous 11 years - 65 of these were in France and six in Spain.
What is dengue fever?Dengue fever is a member of the Flaviviridae family, transmitted by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.
The earliest descriptions of an outbreak surfaced in the late 1700s.
Further outbreaks occurred in the 19th century before becoming more widespread in the last 150 years.
Today, this virus is responsible for more disease and deaths than any other illness spread to people by insects, according to Dengue Virus Disease.
About half of the world's population is now at risk, with 100 to 400 million infections occurring each year, the WHO estimates.
Dengue fever symptoms
Dengue won't always cause symptoms, according to NHS guidance.
But if you do experience some, they'll usually come on four to 10 days after an infected mosquito bites you.
The symptoms can be similar to the flu and include:
The latter seven symptoms listed only tend to occur in severe cases of dengue - you should call 999 or go to A&E if you experience them.
Rabies in VietnamBrits planning on heading to Vietnam in the coming months have been warned the country is experiencing a surge in rabies, with a 160 per cent jump in human deaths recorded so far this year.
Since January, 29 people have died from the virus in the Southeast Asian country.
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Rabies is often caught from the bite of an infected dogCredit: Getty - ContributorThis is compared to 11 fatalities in the first three months of 2023, according to government figures.
Experts warn the number of deaths is likely to rise due to unvaccinated animals and the country's prominent dog and cat meat trade.
"Unfortunately, we can expect an increasing number of people to die of rabies in 2024, in line with the dramatic, more than two-fold rise in animal rabies in 2023," a spokesperson for the WHO's Vietnam office told the Telegraph.
There are two main forms of disease.
'Furious rabies' kills people within days after triggering hallucinations, hyperactivity, loss of coordination and fear of water or fresh air.
By contrast, "paralytic rabies," which causes 20 per cent of cases, gradually stops a person's muscles working until they fall into a deadly coma.
Vaccines can be given before and after exposure, while treatments, including immunoglobulin and monoclonal antibodies, are prescribed in severe cases.
Yet, in Vietnam, access to these tools is limited in some regions.
Crisfield Raccoon Tests Positive For Rabies After Fighting With Dog
CRISFIELD, MD - The Somerset County Health Department says a raccoon has tested positive in Crisfield after the animal was collected following a fight with a dog.
According to the Health Department, the raccoon was taken for testing on Friday, April 12th after the incident with the dog. A positive rabies result was received on Monday, April 15th.
Rabies is 100% fatal if left untreated, the Health Department says, and neighbors are advised to take the following precautions to avoid exposure to the virus:
-Report any sick or strange acting wildlife.
-Vaccinate pets and livestock. Maryland law requires that all dogs, cats and ferrets be vaccinated against rabies by four months of age. Vaccinating your domestic animal not only provides protection for the animal, but vaccinated pets act as a barrier to keep the rabies virus from spreading between wild animals and people.
-Do not feed wildlife or stray animals and discourage them from seeking food near your home.
-Do not approach an unknown animal, either wild or domestic, especially if it is acting in a strange or unusual manner.
-Keep garbage cans tightly covered and avoid storing any food outside.
-Instruct children to tell an adult immediately if they were bitten or scratched by any animal.
-If an unvaccinated pet comes in contact with rabid or suspected rabies the pet must be quarantined for four months.
-Vaccinated pets that come in contact with rabid or suspected rabid animals must be given a booster rabies vaccination within five days of the contact.
The Somerset County Health Department urges neighbors to report all animal bites and scratches by calling 443-523-1700 weekdays from 8 a.M. To 5 p.M. Or 443-859-4419 after hours. For more information you can visit somersethealth.Org.
WBOC was unable to immediately confirm the status of the dog involved in the fight with the raccoon.
Skunk In Westport Tests Positive For Rabies Virus
ELIZABETHTOWN — A skunk, picked up as roadkill in late March by a regional USDA Wildlife Services Specialist in the town of Westport, tested positive for rabies.
The animal was submitted to Wadsworth Lab for testing as part of ongoing rabies surveillance efforts and results were reported to the Essex County Health Department earlier this week.
This is the first confirmed case of rabies in Essex County in 2024.
"While there were no known pet, livestock, or human exposures to be concerned about in this case, knowing where rabies cases are occurring in terrestrial wild animals is important for protecting public health," Jessica Darney Buehler, director of Health Planning & Promotion for the Essex County Health Department, said.
"We work collaboratively with our local animal control officers, New York state Department of Environmental Conservation officers, and USDA Wildlife Services Specialists to share surveillance data, which helps us conduct more targeted outreach and prevention efforts, such as free vaccination clinics, community education, and training for summer camp staff."
Public Health Director at the Health Department, Linda Beers, discussed this latest result in the context of rabies data for 2023.
"Last year was a particularly active year for rabies in Essex County," Beers said.
"We had 13 confirmed cases in wildlife, mostly in the southeastern portion of the county with the exception of a rabid bat in Elizabethtown. This was the highest number of cases since 2019 and though we do not yet know if 2024 will follow a similar pattern, we remain committed to advocating for more rabies prevention support at the state and federal levels.
Gathering and sharing data in real time with our partners helps us build the case for more resources."
Rabies is a preventable viral disease most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. The rabies virus infects the central nervous system of mammals, ultimately causing disease in the brain and death.
The vast majority of rabies cases occur in wild animals like bats, raccoons, skunks, and foxes, although any mammal can get rabies.
Protect Pets:
• Keep pets and livestock up to date with rabies vaccinations
• Attend pets when outside and feed pets inside
• Tightly cap garbage cans, birdseed and other food sources to avoid attracting wild animals to your yard
• Spay or neuter your pets to reduce the number of unwanted pets that may not be properly cared for or vaccinated regularly
Protect People:
• Leave all wildlife alone
• If injured by an animal, wash all wounds thoroughly with soap and water
• Seek medical attention, if indicated
• Report animal bites or possible rabies exposures in pets or people to ECHD 518-873-3500
The 2024 Rabies Clinic Schedule is available at essexcountyny.Gov/health.
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