Spain's regional health authorities are warning of two serious viral diseases spreading in the south of the country. At least 26 people have fallen ill with West Nile fever in the autonomous community of Andalusia. A 46-year-old patient with severe symptoms of Crimean-Congo hematogenous fever is being treated at the Virgen del Rocio hospital in Seville.
In Andalusia, in the south Spaintwo dangerous viral diseases, rare for this region of Europe, are spreading: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever and West Nile fever. Two patients have already died from the latter.
Data from the regional health authority (SAS) show that as of Friday, at least 26 people had contracted West Nile fever in the autonomous community of Andalusia.
According to the SAS management, the number of cases may be much higher, because in 80 percent of cases this disease, transmitted by Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, is asymptomatic, but in the most serious cases it can cause inflammation of the brain or meninges.
On Monday, a group of several hundred people protested in front of the government of the autonomous community of Andalusia in Seville, demanding more action to combat this disease, which is rare in Europe.
Cases of Crimean-Congo hematogenous fever
On Friday morning, regional health authorities issued an alert for Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, another dangerous viral disease that has appeared in Andalusia.
It is reported that a 46-year-old patient is staying at the Virgen del Rocio Hospital in Seville with severe symptoms of this disease, caused by the CCHF virus, transmitted mainly by ticks.
The most typical symptoms of this dangerous infectious disease are headaches, joint pain, high fever, and vomiting. As the disease progresses, patients also experience more severe bleeding.
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