Salobreña lifts West Nile virus alert after a month of intensive efforts to combat the mosquito

The alert had been triggered on 23 July, when the directorate-general for public health detected the virus in mosquitoes caught in the town. The virus was found in specimens analysed during routine trapping surveys, and no people were affected. Nevertheless, the alert was activated for an initial period of four weeks, a period that could be extended if signs of the virus continued to be detected in the area.

Following confirmation from the regional government, María Rodríguez, the councillor for health at Salobreña town hall, wished to send a direct message of calm and reassurance to all residents, assuring them that the epidemiological situation has stabilised.

Rodríguez has spoken very highly of the decision issued by the regional government and has highlighted the intensive emergency plan implemented in the town to achieve this result. In this regard, the councillor has emphasised the coordinated efforts carried out by the Town Council in collaboration with the specialist company Sanisur.

Since the alert was raised, the town hall has launched three lines of action: stepping up spraying in areas where the presence of mosquitoes was suspected or had been confirmed; increasing the number of traps placed throughout the municipality to monitor the spread of the infestation; and launching an information campaign to let residents know what protective measures to take.

The company responsible for pest control deployed twelve operatives who worked two shifts a day carrying out fumigation and intensive treatments against both the larvae and adult mosquitoes. José Francisco del Carpio, the company’s technical director, explained that this year’s heavy rainfall caused the vegetation in the area to grow so profusely that, in some sections, the reeds and scrub have reached heights of up to three metres. To reach these areas, the company used a drone to fly over the entire Guadalfeo River, the wetlands and a large part of the river plain.

Despite having officially moved beyond the alert issued by the regional government, the councillor said that the town hall will not let its guard down and that the health department will continue to carry out environmental monitoring and enforce prevention protocols on an ongoing basis to prevent any future resurgence and protect public health.

The company continues to monitor the situation, and a eight new traps have been installed, all of which have been georeferenced to monitor their location. The traps are situated next to the wetlands, on the access road. Another is in Fuente de los Patos park, near the new bridge. One more is in Ron Montero, right next to the river. Another is in the La Guardia area. One is at the jetty on the River Guadalfeo, next to its mouth. Another is in the upper part of town. One is at the new health centre and a final one is planned for the Casa de la Cultura, in the cemetery area.

This year, due to the public health alert, it has been decided that the eight traps will remain active throughout the year, rather than just during the campaign from March to October. This marks a departure from previous seasons; instead of scaling back operations to just a couple of fixed locations after the summer, there will be continuous monitoring at all eight locations.

Rodríguez expressed his gratitude for the composure and cooperation shown by the residents of Salobreña over the past few weeks, emphasising that the public’s prudence and the swift technical response had been key to overcoming the dangerous situation.