A 60-year-old man from Valencian Community, Gandia city, Spain  has been identified as contracting a autochthonous, or locally acquired case of the mosquito borne virus, chikungunya, according to the Spain Ministry of Health, Social Services and Equality (computer translated).

Image/CDC
Image/CDC

He had no history of travel outside Europe during the incubation period.

He developed symptoms on 7 July in France and sought medical care on 8 July while still in France. Following his return to Spain, the patient was hospitalized on 11 July and discharged on 16 July. Patient blood samples were collected on 23 July. On 31 July, he was laboratory confirmed to be positive for chikungunya by identification of IgM in serum by ELISA testing.

Spanish health officials say some imported cases of chikungunya in travelers are reported every year in Spain. In addition, in some areas of Spain have identified the presence of one of the mosquitoes competent virus transmission Chikungunya, Aedes albopictus ; between these areas is included the Valencia and specifically Gandía, which enables the latter is there has been an indigenous transmission.

Although it is considered likely that the person it became infected in Gandia, you can not say conclusively, for the person concerned It was also during part of the incubation period in the region of southern France Languedoc Roussillon, which is also established the mosquito Aedes albopictus.

Spanish health authorities are carrying out epidemiological and entomological investigations as well as establishing vector control measures. National health authorities in France have informed local health authorities, which are implementing vector control activities in the areas visited by the patient.

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