El Puerto exits the alert for the West Nile virus in Campiña-Serrano but remains at high risk
The Regional Ministry of Health of the Junta lifts the declaration of alert area in Campiña-Serrano after two weeks without carrier mosquitoes. The municipality maintains the high risk level and the City Council asks to continue with prevention measures.
Redacción ·
El Puerto de Santa María remains at high risk level for the West Nile virus although the Campiña-Serrano area is no longer declared an alert area. The Regional Ministry of the Presidency, Health and Emergencies of the Junta de Andalucía has taken this decision after the controls of the last two weeks have not detected mosquitoes carrying the virus.
The change affects the Campiña-Serrano area, where that situation had been declared. For the rest of the municipality nothing changes: the risk remains high and the surveillance, control and prevention work continues.
What it means for residents
Leaving the alert does not mean the virus has disappeared. The City Council insists that precautions must be maintained at home and in the street, above all to avoid mosquito bites.
The deputy mayor for the Environment, Jesús Garay, has stated that «the end of the alert is positive news, but we must continue to be prudent». Garay has asked for neighbourhood collaboration to avoid small accumulations of water in patios, gardens and terraces.
Larvae in Pinillo Chico
Last Friday the Pinillo Chico area was checked and several points with the presence of larvae were located, among them an old pipeline in the surroundings of calle Venus and avenida Felipe VI. The City Council clarifies that the presence of larvae does not by itself imply the existence of the virus nor does it allow it to be linked to the possible case reported in a person residing in that area.
Regarding that possible infection, it has not been possible to determine the place where it would have occurred. According to the information passed on to the City Council, the health authorities have not considered it necessary to modify the risk level. The Consistorio maintains the review of possible mosquito breeding sites in Pinillo Chico.
Prevention measures
The City Council recalls the recommendations issued by the Junta de Andalucía:
- Empty flowerpot saucers, buckets, toys and other containers where water can accumulate.
- Maintain swimming pools, ponds and washhouses, and frequently renew the water in animal drinking troughs.
- Use authorised repellents following the instructions and the age indications of each product.
- Wear light-coloured clothing that covers most of the body, especially at dawn and dusk.
- Install mosquito nets on doors and windows or keep them closed if none are available.
- Turn off unnecessary lights to reduce the attraction of mosquitoes.
The West Nile virus is transmitted mainly by the bite of infected mosquitoes. The withdrawal of the declaration of alert area represents a favourable evolution, but it does not imply the disappearance of the risk nor the end of surveillance.