Spain’s heatwave to continue, health ministry declares hantavirus outbreak case ‘closed’, Málaga’s football team return to first division after eight years and more news on Monday June 22nd.
Two arrested in Spain over exotic animal trafficking network
Two people have been arrested and eight others placed under investigation in Spain over their alleged involvement in a network trafficking exotic animals, police said on Saturday.
The Guardia Civil said it launched an investigation in late 2025 after receiving information about suspected wildlife crimes in the southern province of Seville.
The probe led investigators to intercept a suitcase at Seville’s San Pablo Airport containing several animals protected under international wildlife trade regulations that were allegedly being transported without the required documentation.
During searches of five homes and three industrial premises in Seville, officers seized 256 animals covered by international wildlife trade controls or other conservation measures.
Among the animals seized were savannah monitors, a large species of lizard native to sub-Saharan Africa that is commonly traded in the exotic pet market.
Spain declares hantavirus outbreak case ‘closed’
Spain’s Ministry of Health has declared its hantavirus outbreak case “closed”, after confirming that all individuals under monitoring for the outbreak have completed the established quarantine period and tested negative in PCR tests, thus allowing them their normal activities.
The two people who tested positive during monitoring in Spain have already been discharged from the hospital and are at home, where they continue with the preventive recommendations planned for confirmed cases, according to the department headed by Mónica García.
Four days ago, the last patient admitted to the Gómez Ulla Central Defense Hospital in Madrid for hantavirus infection was discharged.
This was the second positive case among the 14 Spaniards from the MV Hondius cruise ship (13 passengers and one crew member) who had been isolated. The first was a 70-year-old man, whose case was detected on May 11th. He was discharged on June 4th after recovering in the High-Level Isolation Unit.
Spain’s heatwave to continue on Monday
The heatwave that’s scorched Spain over the past days will continue on Monday June 22nd, with temperatures exceeding 40-42 C in many regions.
Storms and heavy showers will also be recorded in the central and northern peninsula, according to the forecast of Spain’s State Meteorological Agency (Aemet).
Almost all of Spain is under a heat warning. Only Murcia and the Canary Islands are exempt, and the warning level has reached red for extreme heat danger in the interior of the Basque Country. Temperatures could reach a maximum of 43 degrees Celsius in Bilbao.
Madrid will reach 40C, Barcelona 34C, Málaga 33, Seville 39C, Alicante 32C and Murcia 37C.
Málaga’s football team returns to first division
Málaga sealed their return to Spain’s top flight after eight years with a 2-1 second division play-off final second leg victory at Almería on Saturday.
Juan Francisco Funes’s side edged a tight Andalucian derby after the goalless first leg last weekend to clinch promotion.
Chupe and David Larrubia’s goals were enough to fire Málaga back to La Liga, with Leo Baptistao pulling one back for Almería, who battled until the end.
With additional reporting by AFP.
