• The illness generally brings about mild symptoms that are very similar those of the flu or a cold and, therefore, it can go unnoticed.

• Symptoms start between three and twelve days after being bitten by an infected mosquito and mainly cause low-grade fever, skin rash, joint and muscle pain, headache or tiredness.

• The illness usually lasts for 2 to 7 days and does not require treatment other than that for alleviating symptoms.

• Spain is not considered an endemic area and the main risk is associated with the arrival of infected people from affected areas. The risk of transmission almost disappears during winter due to the uncertain mosquito activity during that period.

• To date, the affected countries are in Latin America, Africa, Asia and the Pacific region.

• The most serious consequences seen consist of foetal defects in pregnant women (macrocephaly) and some neurological complications (meningitis, meningoencephalitis and myelitis) which can, on exceptional occasions, complicate the illness, above all in people whose immune systems are low or who suffer from chronic conditions.

It must be said that this is a mild illness that leaves no after-effect and deaths related to the illness of healthy people are practically non-existent Only pregnant women that are travelling to affected countries or immunocompromised individuals need to take precautions.