Canary Islands travel warning issued to UK tourists with common medical problems

The weather phenomenon is more common in the Canary Islands such as Gran Canaria

UK holidaymakers with common health issues have been warned about travelling to the Canary Islands due to a weather event known as La Calima, or blood rain.

This phenomenon, which comes from Africa, can affect those with respiratory problems. To stay safe, tourists are advised to check the weather alerts issued by AEMET, the Spanish weather agency.

If you’re sensitive to dust or have breathing problems, it’s best to stay indoors during the Calima, and avoiding strenuous activities is also recommended.

Birmingham Live reports the Calima is a red dust cloud that covers Spain with a layer of red powder. It usually happens a few times each year and is often worse in the Canary Islands, like Tenerife and Lanzarote, than mainland Spain.

The particles from the Calima can be less than 10 microns (0.01 micrograms) in size, small enough to get into your lungs and even your bloodstream. Short exposure might not cause problems, but long exposure and heavy exercise should be avoided when there’s a lot of dust in the air.

Experts are giving advice to people in the Canaries, telling them to “close doors and windows”. They also say “drink water regularly, plenty of water,” and “Clean surfaces in your flat or hotel with a damp cloth”.

Those at risk include infants and young children, pregnant people and the elderly, as well as people with respiratory illnesses or heart conditions.

The guidance recommends staying in an air conditioned place if you’re at risk, explaining:”If you belong to a risk group, it is a good idea to stay in an air-conditioned hotel.”

This is beneficial because “Air conditioning not only helps maintain a comfortable room temperature but also helps purify the air and remove dust, pathogenic bacteria, and viruses.”

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