The Secretary of State for Health, Javier Padilla, has denied that there has been an outbreak of tuberculosis in Ceuta and has emphasized that none has been recorded "neither now nor since July 30." The health official has labeled this information as a "new hoax" when referring to a supposed focus of the disease.
Through a message on the social network X, Padilla has detailed that at Playa del Trampolín, a Red Cross device operates, supported by the National Institute of Health Management (Ingesa), which provides healthcare to migrants who require it. At this assistance point, he has emphasized, "no suspicious cases of tuberculosis have been detected."
The Secretary of State has insisted that tuberculosis is mainly transmitted in closed spaces and has stressed that it is "very difficult" for it to be transmitted in an open environment like a beach, which further reduces the likelihood of an outbreak in that place.
He has also clarified that, to technically speak of an outbreak of tuberculosis, it is essential to confirm at least two cases linked to each other. In this sense, he has assured that in that area and at this moment, "not even that one" has been identified that could serve as a starting point. He has added, moreover, that surveillance tasks have been intensified to detect any situation of this type early.
Padilla has also indicated that, in recent weeks, five cases of tuberculosis have been counted, but he has pointed out that all of them come from diagnoses and treatments already underway prior, so they are not related to a possible new outbreak.
Finally, the Secretary of State has criticized on X the dissemination of information about a supposed health alert attributing it to police sources without verifying it with the competent health authorities. He has warned, moreover, of the consequences that the spread of a hoax of this nature can have for public health.