Dengue Mosquito Found at Tenerife Port

The Canary Islands' insect monitoring system recently caught a female Aedes aegypti mosquito. It was found in a trap at the cruise terminal in Santa Cruz de Tenerife port during routine checks at the islands' main entry points.

Experts believe this is a rare, isolated case, likely brought in by ships from areas where these mosquitoes are common. However, authorities stress the importance of continuing and strengthening surveillance to prevent the mosquito from spreading.

Since 2013, the Canary Islands have used a network of special traps in key areas to detect invasive mosquitoes. This program has successfully eliminated Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in the past, after they were found in Fuerteventura, La Palma, and Tenerife.

Following the latest detection at the capital's port on February 21, 2024, the surveillance system increased the number of traps and how often they were checked in that area. As part of this extra monitoring, several adult mosquitoes were found last week in one of the terminal's traps.

Tests by the Medical Entomology Laboratory at the University Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Health in the Canary Islands confirmed that one of these specimens was a female Aedes aegypti.

After this confirmation, several groups, including the Canary Islands Health Service's Public Health department, Foreign Health, and the Port Authority of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, agreed to maintain strengthened mosquito monitoring. They also decided to put preventive measures in place to stop the mosquito from settling in the islands.

Health officials have informed healthcare workers about the potential risks and the procedure for reporting any suspected mosquito bite cases. They are also providing special training to help identify symptoms of diseases these mosquitoes can carry.

Local residents have also been asked to report any mosquitoes they see, potential breeding spots in their homes or gardens, and any unusual bites.