More cases of chikungunya than ever in the State, the majority in Catalonia

BarcelonaSince the beginning of the year, three times more cases of chikungunya have been detected in Spain than in 2025, and 25% have been identified in Catalonia. This has set off alarms about the tiger mosquito, from the group Aedes, the main transmitter of this virus and also of other arboviruses such as dengue and Zika. Although all cases detected in the Spanish state (119) are imported, experts warn that surveillance of the insect must be increased to prevent the virus from settling in the territory.

Summer is a time conducive to autochthonous transmission of chikungunya, as international arrivals skyrocket in an area where the mosquito is at its peak of activity, between April and November. According to data collected by the National Network for Epidemiological Surveillance, between the beginning of the year and August 16, 119 positives have been reported, 54 of which were imported from Bolivia and 20 from Cuba. With 41 positives, Catalonia becomes the community with the most accumulated cases, followed by Madrid (18), the Valencian Community (17), and Andalusia (17).

On the other hand, regarding the Zika virus, there is more positive news: 8 cases had been registered in 2025 and this year we only have 3 – two in the Valencian Community and one in Navarra.

Control measures

In conversation with Efe, Federico Arribas, from the training group of the Spanish Society of Epidemiology (SEE), explained that despite the possibilities of local transmission cases of chikungunya arising, the state's health protocol reassures him. "When a case like this appears, it is very well controlled by our health system," he stated. Furthermore, Arribas recalled that there are vector control systems in place in areas where mosquitoes proliferate, such as the coast, rivers, and wetlands, where detailed monitoring of different populations is carried out.

It is expected that vector insect diseases will continue "conquering more and more territory": global warming and temperature increases will continue to favor the spread of the tiger mosquito and the diseases it transmits, which until recently were only present in tropical and subtropical areas.

Since there is no vaccine for this virus, self-prevention is necessary in areas where the mosquito has become endemic. "All we can do is protect ourselves from so-called emerging diseases," explained Arribas. Among the preventive measures, it is crucial to avoid leaving stagnant water in pots to prevent them from laying eggs, use mosquito repellent, and protect ourselves especially when the sun sets or rises. Additionally, it is also essential, if symptoms appear – such as high fever or headache or muscle pain – to go to the doctor for monitoring, to be able to detect where the virus is coming from.

Arribas also called for visiting an international vaccination center before traveling to a country where mosquitoes can pose a risk. "As citizens, it is also our responsibility to take care of our health," he concluded.