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Second West Nile fever case confirmed in Andalucía as alert zones expand
New infections in Seville follow first case earlier this season amid heightened mosquito surveillance
Andalucía’s health authorities have confirmed a second West Nile fever case this season, this time in a man from Morón de la Frontera, Seville, who developed viral meningitis but is now on the road to recovery. This follows the region’s first confirmed infection back in September involving an adult in Mojácar, Almería.Alongside this, a new case is under investigation in La Rinconada, Seville, involving another patient hospitalised with viral meningitis. This development brings the total known cases this season to two confirmed, with one more probable case, illustrating a much lower infection rate than last year’s 109 cases and 11 deaths.
In response to the recent findings, authorities have declared Guadalcázar in Córdoba an alert area. Mosquito surveillance traps positioned less than 1.5 kilometres from the town centre detected the presence of Culex pipiens mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus, prompting a heightened alert lasting through to 26 November. Similarly, Utrera and Benacazón in Seville remain at high alert after mosquito detections in recent weeks.
Antonio Sanz, Minister of Health, Presidency and Emergencies, updated the Parliamentary Committee on 30 October, emphasising that while cases are down dramatically compared to last year, the situation demands ongoing vigilance. “We are maintaining a network of sentinel traps year-round,” he said, noting that warmer temperatures have extended mosquito activity deeper into the season.
Morón de la Frontera is now an alert zone for the coming month, as health officials continue to monitor La Rinconada closely. Sanz praised public cooperation, saying, “The people of Andalusia are always setting an example of awareness.”
The Andalusian government has ramped up efforts with over 400 Public Health inspectors conducting thousands of inspections across 775 municipalities, ensuring most at-risk areas have mosquito control plans in place. Community education is also a priority, with nearly 1,500 school sessions carried out to raise awareness and encourage preventive action.
Despite this year’s far lower number of cases, authorities remind residents to keep up mosquito bite prevention measures and remove standing water to limit breeding grounds. Ongoing surveillance and coordinated local action aim to keep the West Nile virus threat in check across Andalucía.
Image: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases/Unsplash
