Rainfall in recent weeks and high temperatures trigger the presence of the insect in the province –
The rains in August coupled with those of just a few days ago, together with the current high temperatures, have created the perfect breeding ground for the tiger mosquito, which is continuing to breed in the area.
Local health officials say that, as a result, the attendance at health centres for mosquito bites have increased this summer by 37.8%
“Although they are not serious, there are far more cases than last year,” said a doctor one local health centre earlier this week. “I treat at least one patient every single day,” she said.
Several pharmacies in the area are also saying that they are selling more repellents and products to deal with this insatiable insect.
According to data from the Ministry of Health, in July and August, family doctors have performed 17,336 assists for bites, the vast majority of them by the tiger mosquito. In the same months of the last year there were just 12,577 treatments
The tiger mosquito arrived in the province about fifteen years ago, but it had been limited to the area around Torrevieja and the salt lakes.
In recent years, however, its growth has seen a real explosion as it has gone on to colonise much of the province. This summer its presence has been detected in many new areas where it had previously not been found.
Eduardo Galante, Professor of Zoology at the University of Alicante said “the issue is serious and we must not lose sight of the fact that the tiger mosquito is a transmitter of diseases such as dengue fever, yellow fever and even the zika virus. Although they are unlikely to bring such diseases to this area, there is always a risk so it is necessary that the Administration urgently provides more information to the population on the need of how they can take precautions to avoid the spread of the mosquito,”
