The West Nile virus has been detected in mosquitoes in Cártama in the province of Málaga. Andalusian health authorities have therefore declared the municipality an alert area until 22 September. At the same time, the number of human cases in Andalusia continues to rise. There have already been two deaths in Spain in 2026.
Spain Expat Press Editorial Team
by Marlon Gallego Bosbach
Attention is growing in Andalusia over the West Nile virus. In the municipality of Cártama in the province of Málaga, a positive mosquito sample was identified as part of the official surveillance programme. The Andalusian regional health authority, the Junta de Andalucía, subsequently classified the area as an “área en alerta”, meaning an alert area.
The measure will initially remain in place until 22 September 2026. However, the positive detection does not mean that a human case has already been confirmed in Cártama. The virus was detected in mosquitoes caught using special traps as part of routine surveillance.
Authorities Step Up Monitoring in Cártama
In response to the positive finding, Cártama will step up its existing mosquito surveillance and control plan. The focus will be on identifying and eliminating potential mosquito breeding sites as quickly as possible.
Particular attention is being paid to drains and areas with standing water. Such locations can provide suitable conditions for mosquitoes to breed. Although inspections are generally carried out throughout the year, they will be stepped up while the current alert level remains in place.
Residents are also being urged to help. People are advised to remove any standing water around homes, gardens and courtyards. This includes items such as buckets, flower pots, toys and other containers in which water can accumulate for several days.
Protection Against Mosquito Bites Recommended
The authorities are also recommending various measures to help prevent mosquito bites. These include using mosquito screens on doors and windows, as well as wearing light-coloured clothing that covers as much of the skin as possible. Approved insect repellents can be used when necessary.
Extra caution is advised in the early morning and evening, when mosquitoes can be particularly active. Gardens with dense vegetation and shaded areas can also provide shelter for adult mosquitoes. Swimming pools, water tanks and other areas containing water should therefore be checked and maintained regularly.
West Nile Virus Can Cause Serious Illness
The current finding in Cártama is particularly significant because the West Nile virus has already caused serious illness in Spain in 2026. According to the latest figures, 52 human cases have so far been recorded in Andalusia. Of these, 36 were mild, while 16 patients developed neuroinvasive disease, in which the virus affects the nervous system.
A total of 24 cases have now also been reported in Extremadura. The region has also recorded one death. A 68-year-old woman who was being treated at Don Benito Hospital died as a result of a West Nile virus infection. According to the available figures, she is the first person to die from the disease in Extremadura in 2026.
Second Death from West Nile Virus in Spain
The death of the 68-year-old woman is also the second known death from West Nile virus in Spain this year. On 5 August, an 82-year-old man in Seville had already died after developing meningoencephalitis caused by the virus.
This shows that although the disease is relatively mild or even asymptomatic in most cases, it can cause serious neurological complications in some cases.
According to health authorities, around 80 per cent of infections are asymptomatic. Some of the remaining patients develop symptoms that can resemble those of flu. In rare cases, however, the infection can lead to serious diseases of the nervous system.
New Case Reported in Extremadura
In addition to the fatality, the health service in the Extremadura region also reported another infection. The patient is a 77-year-old man from Don Benito who did not require hospitalisation.
Of the 24 confirmed cases in Extremadura, three patients were still in hospital at the time of the latest update. Two were being treated at Don Benito Hospital, while one was receiving treatment in Mérida.
Málaga Among the Regions Under Close Surveillance
The fact that Cártama has now come under the spotlight is not entirely unexpected. The municipality is already one of the areas in Málaga province subject to particularly close monitoring due to the risk of West Nile virus transmission.
The latest positive mosquito finding shows that the virus, and the transmission cycle associated with it, continue to require close monitoring in Málaga province.
It is important, however, to distinguish between the detection of the virus in mosquitoes and an infection in humans. No human case has so far been reported in connection with the latest finding in Cártama.
Why the Authorities Are Already Taking Action
The surveillance system is designed to detect situations like this as early as possible. When infected mosquitoes are identified, the authorities can step up their measures before further transmission potentially occurs.
Therefore, Cártama’s classification as an alert area does not automatically mean that a public health crisis has broken out there. Rather, it shows that the authorities are responding to a specific warning sign and stepping up surveillance of the mosquito population.
Enhanced surveillance in Cártama will therefore remain in place until 22 September. At the same time, potential breeding sites will be inspected and measures will be taken to reduce the mosquito population.
West Nile Virus Remains a Concern in Andalusia
The positive mosquito finding in Cártama comes at a time when Andalusia has already recorded several dozen human infections. The number of neuroinvasive cases and the two deaths in Spain in particular show that the virus should not be underestimated.
For Cártama, however, the key point remains that the current alert was triggered by a positive mosquito finding, not by a confirmed human case.
The coming weeks will show whether further positive mosquito samples are detected and whether this leads to additional measures in Cártama or other municipalities in Málaga province.
