Spain reported 253 cases of diseases transmitted by mosquitoes of the genus Aedes up to 2 August 2026, corresponding to epidemiological week 31. All cases were imported: 137 dengue cases, 113 chikungunya cases and 3 Zika cases.
The data come from the provisional report prepared by the Coordination Centre for Health Alerts and Emergencies, based on cases recorded in SIVIEs Plus. The figures are subject to revision as epidemiological surveillance information is consolidated.
Sharp increase in imported chikungunya cases
The most notable finding is the increase in chikungunya. During the same period in 2025, 39 cases had been recorded, compared with 113 reported in 2026, almost three times the previous year’s figure.
The place of exposure was known for 95 cases. Of these, 52 —55%— were from Bolivia and 18 —19%— from Cuba. Cases associated with Bolivia were detected between January and June 2026. The travel profile is also relevant: the reason for travel was known for 42 of the 52 cases from Bolivia and, in 39 —93%—, the purpose was to visit friends or relatives.
This finding highlights the importance of ensuring that pre-travel health advice is not focused solely on conventional tourists, but also on people temporarily returning to their countries of origin to visit relatives.
Dengue: the Maldives, the main place of exposure
Up to epidemiological week 31, 137 imported dengue cases had been reported, compared with 167 recorded during the same period in 2025. The report does not identify a notification pattern different from that of the previous year, although it warns that data from recent weeks should be interpreted with caution because of delays in diagnosis and reporting.
Among cases with a known place of exposure, 51 —47%— were associated with travel to the Maldives. A further eight cases were associated with travel to Cuba. Cases from the Maldives were recorded between January and July, with a peak of 17 cases in May.
Tourism was the main reason for travel: among the 39 cases from the Maldives for which this information was available, 38 —97%— had travelled for tourism. This makes the Maldives one of the destinations requiring particular attention during pre-travel health advice, even when travellers are staying at tourist resorts.
Three imported Zika cases
Spain reported three cases of Zika virus infection during 2026. The countries of exposure were the Maldives, Venezuela and Equatorial Guinea. During the same period in 2025, eight cases had been recorded.
Although the number of cases is low, their origin in three different regions shows that the virus continues to circulate in different parts of the world and that surveillance among travellers must be maintained.
Is there local transmission in Spain?
As of the date of the report, all 253 cases recorded in Spain were imported. However, the presence of Aedes albopictus in different parts of the country means that local transmission remains possible, particularly between April and November, coinciding with peak mosquito activity and a higher volume of international arrivals.
In continental Europe, up to 29 July 2026, one locally acquired dengue case and one locally acquired chikungunya case had been reported, both in France. No locally acquired Zika cases had been reported.
Source and full document
Coordination Centre for Health Alerts and Emergencies; National Epidemiological Surveillance Network; National Centre for Epidemiology. Diseases transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes in Spain and in the European Union and European Economic Area in 2026. Provisional report with data up to 2 August 2026. The report is available on the website of the Spanish Ministry of Health:
