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West Nile virus found in UK mosquitos for first time
- In July 2023, researchers from UKHSA and APHA identified genetic material from West Nile Virus in mosquito specimens gathered in Nottinghamshire, marking the first detection of the virus within mosquitoes in the UK.
- This detection follows the geographic expansion of West Nile Virus into northern Europe, influenced by warming temperatures due to climate change making the UK climate more suitable for mosquito survival.
- The identified virus fragments were found in two samples of native Aedes vexans mosquitoes from wetlands near the River Idle, with no evidence of virus circulation in birds or human cases in the UK so far.
- Dr Meera Chand stated that the likelihood of the public being affected remains minimal at this time, while Dr Arran Folly highlighted that climate change is driving the spread of mosquito-borne illnesses into new regions.
- Ongoing mosquito surveillance aims to monitor distribution and activity to provide early warning and guide testing and control, though travel to endemic areas remains the main risk for UK residents.
47 Articles
47 Articles
UK surveillance identifies traces of West Nile virus in mosquitoes
Fragments of West Nile Virus have been identified in mosquitoes collected in the UK for the first time, according to a UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) monitoring programme designed to understand the emergence and transmission of vector-borne disease in the UK.
West Nile virus found in the UK for the first time – what you need to know
Kwangmoozaa/Shutterstock.comFor the first time, traces of the West Nile virus have been found in mosquitoes in the UK, according to a report published this week by the UK Health Security Agency. Here’s what you need to know about the virus and the disease it causes. What is West Nile virus? West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne virus first identified in Uganda in 1937. It belongs to the same viral family as dengue and yellow fever. The virus is mo…
UK government is wasting time and money on PCR testing tens of thousands of mosquitoes
A research programme by the UK Health Security Agency (“UKHSA”) and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (“APHA”) has identified fragments of West Nile Virus genetic material in mosquitoes collected in Britain. They were able to do this by deploying the test, test, test approach, using polymerase chain reaction (“PCR”) testing of 32,000 mosquitoes. If
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