Villajoyosa council continues with Q fever clean-up protocol

Villajoyosa council’s environmental department continues to work on the plots of land in the town’s Gasparot neighbourhood, affected by the outbreak of Q fever.

After seven people were confirmed as suffering from Q fever, Benidorm health department’s epidemiology unit prepared a report, ‘General measures of Q fever control and the surveillance protocol of the disease’, on how to proceed to deal with the alleged source of infection - a plot with goats.

On Friday October 25, a vehicle spraying disinfectant and insecticide treated the area and possible affected plots were cordoned off for future treatments.

Yesterday and today (Thursday), the plots were being cleared of grass and weeds, which will be burnt ‘in situ’. The goat manure, the source of the bacteria that causes Q fever, will be cleared away and stored until the relevant authority informs the council where to dispose of it safely.

Environment councillor, Jose Carlos Gil said, “It is not a problem that can be tackled lightly. The action protocol requires certain needs and deadlines that must be met in order to properly eliminate the bacteria. The council wants to make sure that all actions are carried out in the manner described in the protocol to be able to assure the public that Partida Gasparot is free from any source of contagion”. Protest

A well-attended protest march was held yesterday (Wednesday) evening in Villajoyosa to demand that the council takes action to decontaminate the areas that the shepherd grazed his goats.

Neighbours in the area claim that only the property where the goats lived, and surrounding properties have been treated, and the council hasn’t taken into account that the shepherd used to let his flock roam all over, and these are the areas that haven’t be treated at all and are not cordoned off.