Spain forced to act as two new diseases spread through country

24 June 2024 , 12:18

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The Spanish health authorities have incorporated monitoring of the diseases into a National Plan for Surveillance and Control of Vector-borne Diseases (Image: Getty)

Spain has embarked on a mission to keep tabs on ticks amid a spike in cases of two deadly diseases transmitted by the blood-sucking pests. The Spanish health authorities have incorporated monitoring of the bugs into their National Plan for Surveillance and Control of Vector-borne Diseases.

This decision follows an alarming increase in instances of Lyme disease and Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF). There's a growing apprehension that these illnesses will continue to escalate across Spain.

Ticks are notorious carriers of viruses, bacteria, and protozoa, which they transmit to humans when they pierce the skin to draw blood. As part of this new surveillance project, particular attention will be placed on Lyme disease and CCHF - two of the most severe conditions borne by ticks.

The gravity of Lyme disease was emphasised by Lucia Garcia San Miguel, head of the Coordination Center for Health Alerts and Emergencies (CCAES). She stated: "It is not an infection that is cured and that's it, but over the months, manifestations can continue to appear and it can cause serious and disabling sequelae for life, but it is extremely difficult to diagnose because there are no adequate methods."

CCHF, which belongs to the Nairovirus genus within the Bunyaviridae family, is endemic in many countries across Africa, the Balkans, the Middle East, and Asia. With a fatality rate between 10% and 40%, early detection and effective care are critical in enhancing patient outcomes, reports Wales Online.

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Spain has reported 15 cases of CCHF in the past eight years. On a sober note, Garcia San Miguel warned: "We believe it will increase."

Lyme disease is predominantly found in the northern regions of Spain, specifically Asturias and Galicia, but it's also been detected across the country. Cases of CCHF are primarily located in Salamanca and Extremadura.

There's been a sharp rise in tick bites in Spain - with Valencia witnessing a six-fold increase over the past five years.

Lyme disease can trigger a range of symptoms, typically divided into early and late stages:

• Early Localised Stage (3-30 days after tick bite).
• Early Disseminated Stage (days to weeks after tick bite).
• Late Disseminated Stage (months to years after tick bite).
• CCHF symptoms usually evolve through several phases:.
• Pre-hemorrhagic phase (1-7 days).
• Hemorrhagic phase (starts around the 4th day).
• Convalescent phase (recovery phase).

Neil Shaw