Reader’s view: rats, crime and drains behind Tenerife’s headlines

By Marlis Zoschke

From traffic jams and rat infestations to hotel break-ins and faulty sewers: Tenerife is currently making numerous headlines that cast the island in a light rarely seen before. Photographs still show places that are beautiful to look at, but the truth often lies where the camera doesn’t reach.

Tenerife is a year-round destination. Millions of tourists flock to the relatively small areas set aside for them on this Canary Island, which covers a total area of just over 2,000 square kilometres.

It is hardly surprising, then, that people from so many different countries bring diseases with them – including some that had all but died out here. But they also bring criminal tendencies. Is the Island Council giving this any thought? Surely there is a duty of care towards the residents.

Apparently there are many doctors, but I assume that most of them are young doctors who have not yet gained experience with many illnesses. This is also the case in Germany. There are doctors there who cannot distinguish a cough from TB because the disease was virtually non-existent.

This is how the Canary Islands are changing

You can’t just pander to the masses whom you believe will bring wealth to the island. Damage is also left in their wake. Now there’s the rat infestation on top of everything else, which is unquestionably down to the government’s failings.

The construction and renovation of the sewerage system should be the top priority. Of course, it’s not a pretty sight when the roads are dug up and pipes have to be laid. What’s more, you might have to walk sometimes, and your hire car will just be sitting there unused.

But rats are no laughing matter. In the past, they spread the plague. Whilst that is a thing of the past, jaundice, trichinosis, salmonellosis, typhoid, rabies and other diseases are still transmitted by rats today.

Tenerife kicks off the peak season

In addition to the many cases of lung cancer, syphilis has now made an appearance. This is a notifiable disease in Germany. I cannot imagine that the situation is any different in the Canary Islands. Back home, too, the number of cases has risen in recent years. There are around 8,000 cases a year.

Syphilis is curable if treated by a doctor straight away. However, many people still die from it because they are reluctant to see a doctor – perhaps out of shame. Yet it is always possible to detect whether someone has ever had syphilis.

And what about Tenerife? The peak season is just round the corner there. Let’s see what other headlines it brings.