A Canary Islands winter sun spot, part of Spain‘s holiday islands, has been hit by yellow fever and dengue fever, causing a health scare.
Fuerteventura health officials have discovered mosquitoes carrying the two potentially fatal diseases on the island.
This has led to fears of a dangerous outbreak of yellow fever and dengue fever which may hit tourists there.
Both yellow fever and dengue fever viruses are spread through mosquito bites.
A number of Britons will be planning to visit Fuerteventura for a winter sun break.
But, since the mosquitoes were discovered on a residential estate called Las Granadas, it may cause health fears.
Some British expat homes on the island are being fumigated to help to prevent the spread of the disease.
In a statement, the Canary Islands regional health authority said: “A larger number of traps are being set and surveys are taking place in houses near to the area where the mosquito has been detected.”
What is yellow fever?
Yellow fever is a serious infection carried by mosquitoes.
It is found in Africa, South America, Central America and the Caribbean.
It can take between three and six days for symptoms of yellow fever to develop.
Symptoms include fever, chills, headache and muscle aches, but can develop into bleeding, organ failure and death.
What is dengue fever?
Dengue fever is a tropical disease spread by mosquitoes who carry the virus.
Symptoms begin anything from three to fourteen days after you are bitten by a virus-carrying mosquito.
It can cause fever, headache, vomiting, muscle pain and a skin rash.
It can lead to dengue hemorrhagic fever, which causes organ damage, bleeding, dehydration and, in some cases, death.
