Brits heading to the popular Canary Islands to top up their tan should ‘remain vigilant’, health officials have warned, as respiratory infections are on the rise.
Brits jetting off for some much-needed winter sun should remain vigilant following a recent health warning. Thanks to its consistently sunny climate, cheap booze, and short distance from the UK, the Canary Islands are a highly popular destination year-round.
In fact, almost 18 million travellers visited the islands last year – and around a third were Brits. Comprised of Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, and some smaller, lesser-visited islands, the Spanish-owned archipelago is located off the coast of northwestern Africa – and therefore benefits from balmy temperatures exceeding 20C, even in January and February. But, following a recent surge in respiratory viruses, officials are worried health centres and hospitals are under too much pressure.
According to local media, the incidence of acute respiratory infections (ARI) in the Canary Islands has reached 1,189 cases per 100,000 inhabitants between January 13 and 19 – the highest rate in Spain. To put this into perspective, the national average currently stands at 804 cases per 100,000.
The flu remains the most prevalent virus, with a national infection rate of 123.9 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. This is much higher than COVID-19 infections, which had surged towards the end of last year – as previously reported by the Mirror. Esther Monzón, head of the regional Health Department strongly advised both health professionals, patients, and staff in care homes and healthcare facilities to therefore wear face masks.
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“Despite the increased demand, Monzón assured the public that contingency plans are in place to manage the strain on hospital emergency services,” stated Canarian Weekly. These measures are said to include hiring 100 additional staff members in the healthcare industry and ‘modifying hospital infrastructures where possible’. The HUC Hospital in Tenerife is also undergoing an expansion to increase its emergency room capacity.
While there is no legal obligation to wear masks, tourists travelling to islands could benefit from bringing their own facial coverings, especially if they’re vulnerable to respiratory issues. Common sense practices such as washing your hands, covering your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough, and throwing away any used tissues can all help prevent flu from spreading.
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