Spain grapples third heatwave

A SPATE of heatwaves stretching across southern Europe has pushed temperatures in parts of Spain to uncomfortable levels in recent weeks. Meteorologists warned it could be the “most extreme of the summer” and triggered widespread weather alerts.

In the third heatwave in a matter of weeks, much of the southern part of the country was on orange alert and red alerts over the weekend, with temperatures expected to surge above 40 Celcius.

The meteorological agency also issued maximum red alerts for parts of Andalucia in the south, the Madrid region in the centre, and the Valencian community.

ties in Catalonia to impose restrictions.

Although many may think that summer temperatures have always been high in Spain, the prolonged heat has usually been broken by summer storms, enabling the land and air temperatures to cool down to a more comfortable level.

Advice during heatwaves is to keep out of the sun and stay in the shade. Traditionally, the Spanish close all of their shutters, keeping their homes in darkness during the daytime in order to keep the heat out of their homes. One business, Chaplins Pub, located in Roquetas de Mar, has noticed a decline in business.

light, in a clear and effective way, objectives such as keeping the beaches clean, pointing out the coastline as a vulnerable natural space, as well as the importance of communicating incorrect actions in the use of the beaches and their restrictions, suggesting appropriate, correct and environmentally friendly measures.

The heatwaves recorded in Spain this summer have also worsened a prolonged drought, lowering reservoir levels as water evaporation and consumption increase, prompting authori­

TWO years have passed since the Digestive, Microbiology and Emergency Services of the Torrecardenas University Hospital launched a Hepatitis C Screening Plan in its Emergency Department.

Since then, more than 15,000 patients have been tested for hepatitis C and 55 patients have been diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C virus who were unaware of

“It is the hottest I have known it for 20 years. The weather has really killed trade as it’s too hot for people to come out during the day,” said the owner, John Clarke on Friday, August 11.

On track

their infection status.

Most of them have already been treated and cured of the infection.

According to the data obtained at this time, the prevalence of infection by the hepatitis C virus in the population that attends the emergency department is 0.4 per cent, double that estimated for the general population.

Spain may be one of the first countries to reach the WHO objective, which seeks to eliminate hepatitis C by the year 2030.

This requires increasing screening strategies since hepatitis C is an asymptomatic disease and most infected patients are unaware of their infection status.