Public Health teams in the Canary Islands are operating at full capacity to control the measles outbreak detected in Tenerife. Although no new positives have been confirmed since last week, contact tracing, analysis of suspected cases, and reconstruction of affected individuals' movements continue to ensure transmission chains are contained. Approximately one hundred people have been notified of potential exposure to the infection.
To date, the outbreak has accumulated four cases: the British minor who arrived on the island infected during their vacation, a hotel worker where the child stayed, a healthcare professional, and a security guard. All these secondary infections are linked to the initial patient.
“"It is a clearly imported outbreak"
Since the detection of the first infections, health services have intensified surveillance among primary care physicians, pediatricians, and hospitals, requesting notification of any condition compatible with the disease. This strategy has increased the number of suspected cases, though not confirmed ones.
Álvaro Torres, head of the Epidemiological Surveillance Unit, notes that suspicion has been requested for any fever with rash, leading to a surge in suspected cases. All these are subjected to diagnostic tests but have so far been negative and lack epidemiological links to the outbreak. Public Health interprets this high alert level as an indicator that the system is functioning well.
The investigation following each positive case is meticulous, reconstructing patients' movements from four days prior to symptom onset. Locations, activities, and individuals with close contact are identified, including gyms, workplaces, extracurricular activities, or bus journeys. Torres admits the task is not always straightforward, as patients may not recall exact dates, making it difficult to locate all contacts. The complexity increased with the case of the British minor, who has already returned to their country and has not responded to communication attempts.
Despite the challenges, the epidemiological link was established with the first secondary infection. Public Health had requested that any suspected case be asked if they had been to the tourist's hotel. The first positive case turned out to be an employee of the establishment, which allowed for the reconstruction of the transmission chain and the connection of the other two cases.
Identified close contacts receive a WhatsApp message informing them of their exposure to the virus and the symptoms to monitor during the incubation period. If they develop fever or rash, they should go to a health center wearing a mask and stating they have been in contact with an infected person. Torres estimates that around one hundred notifications have been sent.
Regarding the hepatitis A outbreak reported last week at a nursery school in Gran Canaria, with six affected individuals, the head of the Public Health Surveillance and Prevention Unit stated it is under control. Only one suspected case is awaiting serological tests. Torres expects the outbreak not to spread further thanks to the vaccination campaign undertaken among close contacts, offering vaccination based on their situation and age.
