Mosquito Bite: Dengue Fever contracted in Spain

Two people have contracted dengue fever in Spain after having been bitten by infected mosquitoes, according to sources from the Ministry of Health.

Dengue fever is a virus contracted through the bite of an infected mosquito and cannot be transferred from person to person.

Up until now all cases of Dengue fever in Spain were only found in people who had travelled to countries where the disease is endemic such as countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

Both people currently infected had been in Murcia and Cádiz where it is believed they contracted the disease after having been bit by an infected Tiger Mosquito.

The symptoms of the disease are similar to that of the flu and while it cannot be contracted by any other means than a mosquito bite there are no known cures.

Symptoms usually occur fourteen days after being infected and include a headache, vomiting, muscle and joint pains, and a distinguishing skin rash.

Recovery generally takes two to seven days and is rarely fatal in the developed world.