New West Nile virus case is detected in Sevilla: Town hall takes ‘urgent measures’

A NEW case of West Nile virus has been reported in Sevilla province.

An elderly man from San Juan de Aznalfarache has caught the virus which has so far claimed five deaths this summer in the area.

He is progressing well according to health authorities with the risk level at San Juan now raised to grade five.

The City Council has adopted ‘urgent measures’ including diagnostic work with a pest manager to reduce mosquito numbers.

The authority stressed it had been fumigating against mosquitoes since the beginning of the summer.

Other initiatives include monitoring where the mosquitoes are and if they are carrying the virus, along with citizen campaigns emphasising prevention and self-protection measures.

The death toll includes three people from Coria del Rio plus victims from Dos Hermanas and La Puebla del Río- all aged over 70 years.

There are also dozens of infections via mosquito bites, which is the only way the virus is transmitted to humans.

The Ministry of Health notified 10 new cases on Monday, specifically in two people from Dos Hermanas, four from Coria del Rio, two from Los Palacios and Villafranca, one person from Gerena and another from Carmona.

The Andalucia strategy plan obliges the municipalities affected by mosquitoes transmitting the West Nile virus to deploy municipal plans including preventive fumigation against the insects.

Sevilla Provincial Council has also contracted two disinfestation companies at a cost of over €1 million to reinforce and expand the municipal plans for areas designated as affected.