Spanish National Research Council

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by @elodiamadra
2020-08-28T00:00:02+00:00
Health
Spain: Regional Government of Andalusia allegedly ignored reports to prevent Nil virus outbreaks

The Junta de Andalucía (Regional Government of Andalusia) ignored the technical reports elaborated by the Doñana Biological Station, which is part of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), to stop the appearance of outbreaks of the West Nile virus.

The last outbreak has caused two deaths and 42 hospitalized by meningoencephalitis in Seville, eight of them in the ICU. The reports urged the Autonomous Executive to implement a program to control mosquitoes - whose bites cause the spread of the pathogen - through fumigation to kill the larvae of the insect and the modification of structures such as scuppers, in whose stagnant water they usually breed.

The scientists, who have been studying the Nile virus since 2003, presented the Andalusian Ministries of Governance, Health, Environment and Agriculture with two draft agreements with plans for surveillance, diagnosis and population control of mosquitoes, with an annual budget of between 365,000 and 500,000 euros, but none of the four departments made any move.