An increasing number of Britons travelling to Spanish tourist hotspot Costa Del Sol are getting severe insect bites from the native Southeast Asian tiger mosquito. Other EU countries, including France, Italy and Greece, have also seen a dramatic rise in tourists getting bitten by the blood-sucking critters. With populations of the bugs peaking during the summer months, May – September, Britons are being advised to take precautions to avoid costly medical bills.
The awful bites have contributed to a huge 739 percent rise in people putting in claims for medical attention they received abroad because of severe bites since 2016, according to travel insurer Staysure.
The dramatic rise in treatments corresponds to the influx of tiger mosquitos which swept over southern Spain during this time.
The year-on-year data revealed the mosquitos are contributing to the rising number of Brits claiming for skin disorders, the fifth most claimed for medical condition for 2018.
According to the Don’t Bank On It report published by the travel insurer last month, Spain was revealed as the country where people made the most claims for skin ailments with 20 percent of all global claims for inspect bites heralding from the holiday hotspot.
Other ailments afflicting Britons abroad include affiliations such as broken bones, bladder disorders and food poisoning – which also make up the top five most claimed for ailments.
This year has seen Britons visiting Spain in higher numbers and spending more than they did in 2018.
Government figures revealed a total of 4.4 million visitors visited Spain in February representing a 3.8 percent increase on last year.
The UK was once again the main tourist market for Andalucia, as well as the Canaries and was the second most important for the Balearics.
The average daily spend of a Brit was also 7.2 percent higher than a year ago at £106 (€124) per person.