How to prevent arboviruses: diseases transmitted primarily by mosquitoes

What do dengue, Zika virus, Chikungunya fever, and West Nile fever have in common? They are all diseases transmitted by arbovirusThese diseases, common in endemic areas of America, Africa, and Asia, have reached Catalonia in recent years mainly due to intercontinental travelers and the presence of the tiger mosquito and the common mosquito. If a case is suspected by a doctor, the Department of Health recommends taking extreme precautions. avoid the bite of these insects for two weeks after the first symptoms appear.

These diseases cause a wide range of symptoms and often include fever, headache, muscle and joint pain. Vaccines are available for some, but generally the best prevention is to protect yourself from the bites of the mosquitoes that transmit them, using repellents and clothing that covers the entire body, among other measures.

Although there is no specific treatment to cure them, rest, proper hydration, and certain medications can alleviate their discomfort.

Main vectors

Arboviruses are potentially dangerous because they are easily and quickly transmitted through bites, especially from mosquitoes, which proliferate in the heat, making them difficult to control. The main carriers in our homes are the tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) and the common mosquito (Culex pipiens) capable of transmitting the dengue, chikungunya, and Zika viruses in the first case, and the West Nile virus in the second.

When they bite an infected person or animal, they can ingest the virus and then transmit it to other individuals through further bites.

How to avoid mosquito bites?

If there are signs that you have been infected with an arbovirus, it is very important to avoid mosquito bites for two weeks after the onset of symptoms. Therefore, health authorities recommend avoiding unnecessary travel outside your home and workplace. It is also advisable to limit outdoor activities to the hours of peak mosquito activity, which are the first hours after sunrise and before sunset.

If you do go outside, it is necessary to use repellent (to confirm whether a product protects against the tiger mosquito or the common mosquito, read the label carefully and follow the application instructions) and avoid areas with stagnant water. Another basic recommendation is to wear long-sleeved clothing and long pants, preferably light-colored, and socks. Finally, keep doors and windows closed, and use mosquito nets on beds, doors, and windows.

How to prevent the proliferation of mosquitoes?

Another key point is preventing the spread of the tiger mosquito and the common mosquito. To achieve this, the accumulation of stagnant water for more than five days, which can serve as a breeding ground, must be avoided. Therefore, unnecessary containers must be emptied and the water in those that are used must be renewed. It is also important to keep swimming pools clean and well treated.

In addition, the Generalitat (Catalan Government) deploys a team from the corresponding Mosquito Control Service so that, together with the city council, they can contact the affected person and identify larvae or adults in the area, and the appropriate measures to control the mosquitoes.

The cases

During the 2022-2024 period, 1,591 suspected cases of arboviruses were reported in Catalonia, 564 of which were confirmed. Dengue was the most common, accounting for 93% of cases.

Although most of the confirmed cases of arboviruses in Catalonia are imported, a small proportion, 2.1%, are autochthonous. The Government is working to prevent the spread of these viruses, and the Catalan Epidemiological Surveillance Network monitors the months of peak mosquito activity to detect cases and limit the spread of infections.