Fitness And Health

People visiting these islands could be at risk of high UV levels

People have been urged to take certain precautions as the ultraviolet radiation risk at a popular holiday destination area has been raised to “extreme”. Health officials in the Canary Islands have elevated the UV risk across several of the islands.

According to the Canary Islands Health Department, UV radiation levels are presently classified as “very high” across all islands. And Fuerteventura, Lanzarote and Gran Canaria have reached the highest “extreme” warning category.

Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation can lead to serious health complications, including DNA damage, severe sunburn, allergic skin reactions, eye conditions and a heightened risk of skin cancer, including melanoma. Health experts also caution that UV exposure can suppress the immune system and even trigger the reactivation of viruses such as cold sores.

The alert particularly impacts those who spend lengthy periods outdoors, whether for work or leisure, as well as individuals with fair skin, light eyes or a family history of skin cancer. Children and older adults are also regarded as especially at risk.

As reported by Canarian Weekly on May 21, health authorities are strongly advising people to avoid direct sunlight between 11am and 5pm wherever possible, seek out shaded areas and wear protective clothing, wide-brimmed hats and approved sunglasses with UVA and UVB protection. The application of SPF 50 sunscreen is highly recommended, even on overcast days.

Authorities also issued a reminder to parents that babies under one year old should never be exposed directly to sunlight, as their skin is particularly sensitive and incompatible with most sun creams. The Canary Islands consistently record some of the highest UV radiation levels across Spain throughout the year, owing to their geographical position and climate.

How to apply sunscreen

The NHS warns that most people do not apply enough sunscreen. As a guide, adults should aim to apply around six to eight teaspoons of sunscreen if you’re covering your entire body.

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If sunscreen is applied “too thinly”, the amount of protection it gives is reduced. If you plan to be out in the sun long enough to risk burning, sunscreen needs to be applied twice:

• 30 minutes before going out
• Just before going out

Sunscreen should be applied to all exposed skin, including the face, neck and ears, and head if you have thinning or no hair, but a wide-brimmed hat is better. Sunscreen needs to be reapplied liberally and frequently, and according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

This includes applying it straight after you have been in water, even if it’s “water resistant”, and after towel drying, sweating or when it may have rubbed off. It’s also recommended to reapply sunscreen every two hours, as the sun can dry it off your skin.

Further to this, the NHS recommends you should do the following to stay safe in the sun:

• Spend time in the shade between 11am and 3pm
• Never burn
• Cover up with suitable clothing and sunglasses
• Take extra care with children
• Keep babies under six months out of direct sunlight
• Use at least factor 30 sunscreen – make sure to use enough and re-apply frequently

The island is a popular holiday destination for Brits

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has moved to reassure concerned residents in Tenerife that they will not come into contact with passengers from a hantavirus-affected cruise ship due to arrive on the island. Nearly 1million people call the island home, which also serves as a major holiday destination for British tourists and visitors from across Europe.

The UN health body confirmed there had been six cases of hantavirus linked to the MV Hondius vessel, with four patients currently receiving hospital treatment. It revealed that a total of eight cases, including three fatalities, had been recorded — though one suspected case has since been ruled out after returning a negative hantavirus test.

Around 22 British passengers and crew members aboard the ship are due to arrive in Tenerife on Sunday, with plans to fly them back to the UK on the same day. Representatives from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Foreign Office will meet the MV Hondius when it arrives in Spain’s Canary Islands, with British nationals on board undergoing hantavirus testing before disembarking.

Those who test negative and show no symptoms will be transported directly to a specially arranged repatriation flight with medical staff on board. British citizens returning home will be required to self-isolate for 45 days and will be prohibited from using public transport to reach their residences. The WHO confirmed on Saturday that no symptomatic passengers were currently aboard the vessel. In a letter to the residents of Tenerife, WHO director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus acknowledged locals were “worried”.

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The Ethiopian public health official described the virus as “serious” but stressed the outbreak was “not another Covid” and the “current public health risk from hantavirus remains low”.

He explained: “Spain’s authorities have prepared a careful, step-by-step plan: passengers will be ferried ashore at the industrial port of Granadilla, far from residential areas, in sealed, guarded vehicles, through a completely cordoned-off corridor, and repatriated directly to their home countries.

“You will not encounter them. Your families will not encounter them. Nearly 150 people from 23 countries have been at sea for weeks, some of them grieving, all of them frightened, all of them longing for home. Tenerife has been chosen because it has the medical capacity, the infrastructure, and the humanity to help them reach safety.”

Two British men are currently being treated for hantavirus in the Netherlands and Johannesburg, South Africa, while a third British man with symptoms is being cared for on the isolated South Atlantic island of Tristan da Cunha. The Foreign Office confirmed that a total of 30 passengers and crew aboard the MV Hondius are British nationals, with 22 still remaining on the vessel. The outbreak has been linked to a birdwatching trip in Argentina, which two of the passengers attended prior to embarking on the ship.