Older Brits flying to Tenerife and Lanzarote for a spell of winter sun must wear a mask in public places and have protective vaccinations before travelling, health chiefs have warned.
The urgent alert has been sparked by an explosion of ‘deadly’ winter viruses on the Canary Islands — a popular choice of holiday hotspot for those seeking Christmas breaks abroad.
Cases of Covid, flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) have risen five-fold in the region since August, triggering an official warning by the Canary Islands Association of Primary Care Physicians.
According to Spanish authorities, the three viruses combined are now affecting a whopping 794 people per 100,000.
In England, the figure is roughly 60 per 100,000 — roughly 10 times lower than that of the Spanish archipelago, Government data shows.
While the viruses result in mild symptoms for most healthy, young people, older Brits with underlying conditions and infants are at risk of life-threatening illness.
Ana Joyanes, president of the Canary Islands Association of Primary Care Physicians (AMAPCAN), warned that the region is expecting cases to continue to rise over the winter months, GB News reports.
Doctors are still urging vulnerable travellers to get vaccinated against both flu and Covid before visiting the Canary Islands (pictured Lanzarote) to prevent severe illness and strain on emergency services
Ministry of Health will meet in November to decide if mandatory mask-wearing needs to come into action to help control the spread
The previous season’s peak occurred in mid-December last year, reaching 1,296 cases per 100,000 residents.
Ms Joyanes said: ‘Vaccination is essential to make the impact of these infections milder or avoid them altogether, especially if you are over 60 years of age or classed as vulnerable.
‘Anyone with respiratory symptoms should wear a mask to prevent transmission.’
‘Both flu and Covid can be deadly. If we are protected, we will fare better against the viruses,’ she added.
The region’s Ministry of Health will meet in November to decide if mandatory mask-wearing needs to come into action to help control the spread.
The Canary Islands is a popular hot spot for winter sun breaks, with millions of Brits heading to the Spanish region every year.
Tourists travelling to Tenerife, Lanzarote, Grand Canaria, Fuerteventura, El Hierro, La Gomera, or La Palma are all affected by the alert.
The health warning comes as Brits are being told to brace for a ‘quadrupledemic’ amid an upsurge in norovirus cases.
Rates of the vomiting bug soared by 40 per cent last month piling pressure on the health service before the season even gets into full swing. Covid, RSV and flu are also thought to rise this winter.
A cough runny nose and a loss of taste and smell are tell-tale signs of Covid.
Norovirus can show similar symptoms to Covid, with both viruses causing chills, fever and headaches. Yet it also causes explosive vomiting and diarrhoea.
The stomach bug usually goes away on its own within two to three days.
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