The Ministry of Health, under the supervision of the General Directorate of Public Health in SCS, has once again put into action the protocol established in the Entomological Surveillance System of the islands after finding specimens of the Aedes albopictus species in various stages of development at the Santa Cruz de Tenerife harbour, specifically in two containers from Castellón, an area where these specimens are known to thrive.
Upon analysis of the samples on July 4th, the presence of tiger mosquito larvae and pupae was identified in several olive trees that were shipped in containers to the Santa Cruz de Tenerife harbour, one of the active surveillance points since a specimen of Aedes aegypti was discovered there.
Following this new finding, and following the protocol in place, necessary fumigation procedures have been conducted on both the containers and their contents as a precautionary measure. Additionally, the General Directorate of Public Health has notified the port authorities of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas, as well as the City Council of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, regarding these discoveries to initiate the required actions outlined in the protocol.
The Surveillance and Public Health System team, in collaboration with the Canary Islands University Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Health, is already planning an initial preventive action by increasing trap placement in various locations beyond the usual protocol. These traps are being set up at high-risk points, particularly where the mosquitoes were found and in surrounding areas.
Consequently, the surveillance system has ramped up sampling in the area, identifying potential breeding sites within the vector’s potential dispersion radius. In light of the various Aedes aegypti findings in the port area in recent months, entomological surveillance efforts have been reinforced, both in terms of the number of traps installed and the sampling frequency.
In this context, the Canary Islands are stressing the importance to the State of enhancing control measures on ships arriving from regions where the Aedes are firmly established, given that one confirmed entry route for invasive mosquitoes into the archipelago is the trade of plants from high-risk areas where this mosquito species is prevalent.
Other findings
Since January 2023, Aedes aegypti have been sporadically discovered at the Santa Cruz de Tenerife harbour in February, March, and May 2023, and a Aedes albopictus specimen was also found last November, linked to shipping activity. Furthermore, in November 2023 and January 2024, Aedes aegypti were detected at the Port of Las Palmas, Gran Canaria. Yet, in none of these instances have breeding grounds been identified or reports of bites from workers in the port facilities.
