SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 5 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Ministry of Health, under the General Directorate of Public Health of the SCS, has once again initiated the outlined protocol in the Entomological Surveillance System of the islands upon the discovery of Aedes albopictus specimens in various growth stages within the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The specimens were found in two containers from Castellón, an area known for hosting these mosquitoes.
The examination conducted on July 4 revealed larvae and pupae of tiger mosquitoes within several olive trees that were being transported in containers to the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. This port has been an active point in the surveillance system ever since a specimen of Aedes aegypti was identified in January 2023.
Subsequent to this latest finding, in compliance with the prescribed protocol, fumigation measures have been promptly undertaken on both the containers and their contents as a precautionary step. 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, about these developments to ensure the implementation of the protocol’s provisions.
The team from the Surveillance and Public Health System, in coordination with the General Directorate of Public Health and the Canary Islands University Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Health, is already planning an initial preventive action. This includes an increased deployment of traps at various sites beyond the established protocol, particularly at high-risk locations such as where the mosquitoes were detected and nearby areas.
Consequently, surveillance efforts in the area have been intensified, with a focus on identifying potential breeding grounds within the vector’s potential dispersal range. In the wake of recent Aedes aegypti detections in the port area, entomological surveillance activities have continued unabated, currently bolstered by an increased number of traps and enhanced sampling frequency.
The Canary Islands is emphatic about the necessity for the State to enhance control measures for vessels arriving from regions with a high Aedes prevalence. It has been confirmed that one pathway for the introduction of invasive mosquitoes to the archipelago is the trade of plants from high-risk areas where these mosquitoes are endemic.
ADDITIONAL FINDINGS
Since January 2023, Aedes aegypti has been periodically detected in the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife during February, March, and May 2023, with an Aedes albopictus specimen also found last November, likely linked to maritime traffic. Furthermore, in November 2023 and January 2024, Aedes aegypti presence was noted in the Port of Las Palmas, Gran Canaria. However, no breeding sites have been identified in any of these instances, nor have there been reports of worker bites in the port facilities.
