A new West Nile virus alert has been declared in Malaga province after the disease was detected during routine mosquito surveillance.
The Junta de Andalucia’s health department has placed Cartama under alert until September 22 following a positive result from a sample collected as part of preventative monitoring.
The announcement comes just a day after authorities lifted West Nile alerts in Fuengirola and Mijas.
Cartama town hall has now activated its municipal surveillance and vector-control plan and will step up efforts to identify and eliminate potential mosquito breeding grounds.
The positive result was detected through traps used to monitor populations of mosquitoes capable of transmitting the virus.
The council said it will intensify inspections of drains and areas containing stagnant water, although preventative mosquito-control work is already carried out throughout the year.
West Nile virus is primarily transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito.
Around 80% of human infections cause no symptoms, according to information provided by the council, while most symptomatic cases produce relatively mild, flu-like illness.
However, in a small proportion of cases the virus can cause serious neurological disease and can be fatal.
The virus circulates naturally between birds and mosquitoes, while humans, horses and other mammals can also become infected.
The new alert does not mean that a human case has been detected in Cartama.
The measure follows the positive mosquito surveillance sample and triggers increased monitoring and control measures designed to reduce the risk of transmission.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
