A baby born so early that every day of survival mattered was facing another devastating battle, the possibility of losing its sight. Born at just 24 weeks, the premature baby developed a serious eye condition that can lead to permanent blindness, but doctors in Elche managed to intervene before the damage became irreversible.

The baby was suffering from severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), a condition affecting the developing blood vessels in the retina. In serious cases, it can cause the retina to detach and result in permanent loss of vision. Specialists at the Hospital General Universitario de Elche treated the baby with a highly specialised procedure designed to stop the abnormal blood-vessel growth before it could cause irreversible damage.

A race to protect the baby’s sight

Being born at 24 weeks meant the baby’s eyes were still developing when it entered the world. The blood vessels in the retina normally continue developing during the final stages of pregnancy. Extremely premature birth interrupts that process and can leave the retina vulnerable to abnormal blood-vessel growth. In severe ROP, those vessels can damage the retina and eventually cause it to detach.

That was the danger facing the baby in Elche, doctors identified the condition and were able to intervene while treatment could still prevent permanent damage. The hospital says the intervention preserved the baby’s visual function, avoiding the loss of sight that can occur when severe ROP progresses untreated.

Highly specialised treatment

The treatment involved an intraocular injection of an anti-VEGF biological drug. The medication works by reducing the signals responsible for abnormal blood-vessel growth in the retina. By controlling that growth, doctors can reduce the risk of further damage and retinal detachment.

Although the injection is minimally invasive, carrying it out on a baby born at only 24 weeks presented significant challenges. The patient was extremely fragile and required specialist neonatal care before, during and after the procedure. The hospital therefore brought together its Ophthalmology Department and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for the intervention.

Protecting a fragile patient

Ophthalmologists Cristian Fernández and Manuel Baeza performed the eye procedure, while paediatrician Consuelo Vázquez and the neonatal intensive-care team were responsible for preparing and monitoring the baby. The team used a specific neonatal intensive-care protocol and a micro-dosing system to administer the medication.

The baby’s condition meant that the procedure could not simply be treated as a routine eye injection. Its extremely premature birth and very low weight required careful monitoring throughout. The cooperation between the specialist teams allowed doctors to treat the eye problem while maintaining the level of intensive care required by such a vulnerable patient.

A condition that can steal a child’s sight

Retinopathy of prematurity is one of the major causes of childhood blindness, fortunately it is preventable  It occurs primarily in babies born very prematurely because their retinal blood vessels have not completed their normal development. Some cases are mild and resolve without treatment. More severe cases require close monitoring and intervention to prevent permanent damage.

That makes screening particularly important for babies born at very low gestational ages. In this case, doctors were able to detect the problem and act before the retina suffered irreversible damage. The successful intervention means the baby has avoided one of the most serious consequences associated with severe ROP.

What happens now?

The treatment does not mean the baby’s medical journey is over, extremely premature babies often require continued specialist monitoring, and babies treated for ROP need follow-up examinations to check how the retina develops and ensure there are no further complications. For this child, however, doctors have achieved the outcome that mattered most: protecting its sight during the earliest and most vulnerable stage of life.

The case also demonstrates the importance of specialist neonatal and ophthalmological care for babies born at the limits of viability. A child who arrived at just 24 weeks was facing the possibility of permanent blindness on top of the many challenges associated with extreme prematurity.

Doctors in Elche have now stopped that threat before it could become irreversible. For the family, the intervention means their baby can continue growing with its visual function preserved, something that could have been very different without timely specialist treatment.

Do you fancy taking to the stage and showing Rojales what you can do? The town is looking for performers for its XI Night of Stars Festival, giving locals the chance to dress up, perform and become their favourite music stars for the night.

Anyone can enter, either alone or as part of a group of up to 15 people. The idea is to imitate a well-known singer or group as realistically as possible, performing in playback and bringing plenty of personality to the stage.

Become your favourite music star

Participants will have the opportunity to recreate the appearance and performance style of their chosen artist, making costumes, choreography and stage presence all part of the fun.

Each performance can last up to four and a half minutes, and entrants can put forward a maximum of two possible acts featuring different artists.

The festival gives local performers the chance to get creative and entertain the audience, whether they choose to recreate a famous solo singer, pop group or another well-known music act.

There are only 24 performance places available, which will be allocated in order of registration, so anyone keen to join the fun should get their entry in early.

Registration open until September 2

Registration remains open until September 2 at the Information Office inside Rojales Town Hall.

Entrants need to provide their contact details, chosen artist and song, performance length and number of people taking part, together with the completed registration form, inside a sealed envelope.

Anyone considering two different performances can include both options, provided they feature different artists. With places limited, registering early will give performers the best chance of securing a spot in the festival.

Under-18s can also take part but will need permission from their parents or legal guardians before entering.

The event offers friends, families and individuals the chance to put together their own tribute performance and experience what it is like to step into the spotlight in front of a local audience.

Rojales Town Hall is at Calle Malecon de la Encanta, 1, 03170 Rojales, where completed registrations can be submitted before the September 2 deadline.

With just 24 places available, budding performers hoping for their moment in the spotlight are being encouraged to choose their song, prepare their costumes and get their entries in as soon as possible.

Residents across the Costa Blanca are being encouraged to help track mosquitoes using the Mosquito Alert app, as health authorities strengthen monitoring of species capable of transmitting disease.

The Ministry of Health is asking people to send photographs of mosquitoes, report possible breeding sites and record bites through the citizen science app. Observations submitted by members of the public are reviewed by specialists and used alongside official monitoring systems.

Anyone can participate, making it possible for residents to contribute useful information about mosquito activity simply by reporting what they see in their local area.

Tiger mosquitoes already established on Mediterranean coast

The scheme is particularly relevant to the Mediterranean coast, where the tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, is already established.

Monitoring mosquitoes is important because some species can transmit diseases including chikungunya, dengue and West Nile virus.

Spain had recorded 108 imported cases of chikungunya by July 19, compared with 37 during the same period last year. However, there have been no locally transmitted cases in Spain this year.

There were also 124 imported dengue cases, although again no locally transmitted cases have been reported during 2026.

The distinction means the infections were contracted outside Spain rather than through mosquito transmission within the country.

West Nile virus monitored in Alicante

West Nile virus is also being monitored by health authorities.

By July 22, one human case had been confirmed in Alicante province, alongside two in Sevilla.

The monitoring programme allows authorities and researchers to build a clearer picture of where different mosquito species are appearing and identify potential changes in their distribution.

Public reports can also help specialists locate possible breeding areas and detect invasive species in places where they have not previously been recorded.

Residents can submit mosquito sightings

Mosquito Alert has been running since 2014 and has helped identify invasive mosquitoes in almost 500 Spanish municipalities.

It has contributed to 32 per cent of the first recorded detections of invasive mosquitoes in Spain, demonstrating how information submitted by members of the public can complement official surveillance.

Anyone can participate simply by using the app to submit sightings and possible breeding locations, as well as reports of mosquito bites.

Photographs sent through the platform are checked by specialists before being added to the wider monitoring system.

With mosquito activity particularly noticeable during the warmer months, Costa Blanca residents are being encouraged to take part and help provide researchers with more information about the insects appearing across the region.

For more information about the app and how to participate, visit mosquitoalert.com.