Rise In Cases Of Mosquito-borne Viruses

Monday, 3 July 2023 11:13

Islanders are being warned about the rising risk of viruses spread by mosquitoes.

Longer, warmer summers and frequent flooding are causing a rise in cases of Dengue and West Nile virus in central and southern Europe.

The diseases are usually asymptomatic, and people recover in one to two weeks, but some forms of the viruses can be fatal for the elderly and immunosuppressed.

Public Health advises people going on holiday to protect themselves against the insects and diseases they carry by:

Using insecticide-treated bed nets;
Sleeping in air-conditioned rooms;
Using window screens;
Wearing clothes that cover most of the body;
Using mosquito repellent.

Director of Public Health, Professor Peter Bradley, says people should follow advice.

"I urge Islanders who are travelling abroad this summer to protect themselves and their families."

If symptoms do show, they include:

Dengue - high fever, headache, body aches, nausea and rash.
West Nile virus - headaches, malaise, fever, myalgia, vomiting, rash, fatigue, and eye pain.

Over 1,100 cases of West Nile virus and 71 cases of dengue in the EU were reported in 2022.

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