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Climate change blamed for Portugal’s “probable” first case of West Nile virus Experts are warning that climate change could heighten the risk of surges of infectious diseases more common to warmer climates, such as the West Nile virus or Malaria, in Europe. Last weekend the National Health Board (DGS) confirmed an investigation was taking place into a “probable case of West Nile Virus” in Portugal. DGS general sub-director José Robalo said this week that the disease had still not been confirmed, but there is a “great probability” that it would be. According to reports, the patient in question, a resident from the Lisbon and Tagus Valley region, had never been hospitalised nor had they been out of the country. The “adult” has apparently contracted the most serious form of the disease. Since being placed under observation and despite being as yet an isolated incident, a mosquito surveillance network has been set up around the patient’s area of residence in the interests of public health. As of July 14th mosquitoes from the area have been “intensely monitored” and “captured for surveillance”, though so far no infected insects have been found. West Nile virus is transmitted via carriers and could become more frequent with climate change. “These are diseases transmitted by carriers, essentially mosquitoes, ticks, and rodents. These carriers, with climate change, are given more favourable conditions in which to spread the diseases associated to them and they could become more frequent”, global warming expert Filipe Duarte Santos told Lusa News Agency. Malaria and leishmaniasis are other diseases more commonly found in hotter countries but which could eventually surge in Europe. “It is a risk for the whole of Europe but which would have greater incidence in the south than in the north. Europe eradicated malaria fever, but it is a present risk” said Filipe Duarte Santos. Experts believe that with the planet’s globally rising temperatures, the areas of incidence for such diseases are at risk of modifying, gradually spreading to countries previously free of infection. “What we must do is monitor carriers, particularly mosquitoes, which Portugal has been doing and will continue to do”, the specialist added. According to information from the DGS, the West Nile virus is transmitted by a mosquito, with one in five infected people showing signs of a fever. Clinically, the majority of people infected with the Nile virus experience light symptoms or suffer no symptoms at all. Less than one percent of those humans infected develop serious symptoms, which usually involve the central nervous system, such as meningitis, encephalitis, or both. This week, Vila Real de Santo António Town Hall has asked the Regional Hydrographical Board (ARH) and the Castro Marim Sapal Nature Reserve to intervene in helping control an outbreak of mosquitoes in the area. The Town Hall said this week “since July 20th [last Tuesday] the areas of Monte Gordo and Vila Real de Santo António (VRSA) have been affected by a plague of mosquitoes”. The council clarified that, “the species in question does not pose a risk in the carrying of diseases”, but “are still very bothersome”. Malaria, which is a mosquito-borne infectious disease widespread in tropical and subtropical regions, recently made headlines in the UK when pop-star and X-Factor judge Cheryl Cole contracted the disease following a short trip to Tanzania. According to the Daily Mail, the 27-year-old star could have been infected with “one of the deadliest strains of the illness”, which left her “weak, jaundiced and unable to talk”. She is currently convalescing in her Surrey mansion and is expected to make a full recovery.
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