Virus warning

Health authorities are urging visitors to Ibiza to be cautious of a mosquito-borne infection

TOURISTS planning to travel to Ibiza this summer are being warned about a mosquito-borne virus after a spike in cases.

German authorities notified Spain that six German tourists had recently returned from Ibiza with dengue fever, the Spanish Health Ministry announced last week.

One German woman confirmed to have been infected with the dengue virus had been in Ibiza with her family just before she developed symptoms in August.

By Anthony Piovesan

The woman, her partner and 14-month-old daughter all developed symptoms, but only the woman was tested for dengue.

Another woman in the same part of Ibiza in October also returned a positive result. She was also visiting the Balearic island with her partner and child, and they all developed symptoms.

The Spanish Health Ministry said a person who lived in the same area the Ger- man tourists had visited appeared to have caught the virus in Mexico and started the outbreaks in Ibiza.

Dengue is usually spread through certain types of mosquitoes. The tiger mosquito, the most likely culprit in this case, was first identified in Ibiza in 2014.

Dengue, which has spread rapidly around the world in recent years, according to the World Health Organisation, is most widespread in tropical areas. About 80% of Dengue cases are mild or asymptomatic, but it can cause severe illness that can become fatal. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, rash, aches, pains and fever.