Trio of killer viruses to hit UK 'any time now' - and there's no treatment
Infectious disease experts are warning that it's a matter of when, not if, climate change will see serious mosquito-borne viruses hit the UK for the first time.
Rising temperatures have already created ideal conditions for the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) to spread in London and the southeast - currently the country's warmest regions. This means that diseases once limited to warmer climates - such as dengue fever, chikungunya, and Zika - could soon take hold in Britain for the first time.
According to the UK Health Security Agency, have already detected eggs in the UK on eight occasions, and Professor Steven Sinkins, an expert in microbiology and tropical medicine at Glasgow University, warns transmission could be right around the corner.
"It could happen any time," he told the i Paper. "It is possible that over a hot summer the mosquitoes reach sufficient numbers for transmission to occur. Eggs of this mosquito have been detected in Kent and London in the last few years, and the climate in southern England is suitable for it to become established. If that happens it will both cause biting nuisance and also probably transmit viruses such as dengue and chikungunya in the summertime.
"There is growing concern that it will eventually become established in the UK and cause outbreaks of dengue and chikungunya, as is being seen in France and Italy.
"Dengue can be fatal and chikungunya can cause long-term joint pain and disability."
Symptoms of the diseases typically include fever, headache, fatigue, nausea, and joint or muscle pain. These illnesses can prove fatal, particularly for those with pre-existing medical conditions or a compromised immune system.
Chikungunya fever (CHIKV) is a viral illness transmitted by mosquitoes. It cannot be passed from human to human. Its name means "to become contorted" or "stooped walk," referring to the intense joint and muscle pain it causes. According to the Mayo Clinic, there is no treatment.
The majority of people infected with CHIKV develop a sudden fever and severe pain in multiple joints. Other symptoms may include headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, or rash. Symptoms typically appear 2 to 7 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito.
These symptoms typically resolve within 7 to 10 days, and most patients make a full recovery. However, in some cases joint pain and arthritis may persist for several months or even years. Occasional cases of eye, neurological and heart complications have been reported, as well as gastrointestinal complaints. While a chikungunya vaccine has been approved in the UK, there is currently no specific treatment for the infection.
The vaccine contains a form of the virus that has been weakened in the laboratory so it cannot multiply. The vaccine works by training the immune system (the body's natural defences) to recognise CHIKV and it is then able to produce specific antibodies which attack the virus.
Most people recover within a few weeks, but for some, joint and muscle pain can persist for months or even years after the initial infection.
The warning follows news that the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) recently detected West Nile virus in mosquitoes in the UK for the first time. This is believed to be linked to a rise in Aedes vexans mosquitoes - another species capable of transmitting the virus - due to warmer conditions.
The UKHSA emphasized that the public risk remains 'very low,' as there is no evidence any infected mosquitoes have bitten humans. The virus was found during routine mosquito surveillance, and is thought to have come from a UK mosquito biting a migratory bird carrying the virus—not from an established local transmission.
Currently, West Nile virus is not circulating in the UK. However, if it were to become established, it could spread among birds and mosquitoes, significantly increasing human infection risk.
Scientists say this detection highlights the broader concern: as the UK climate warms, the threat from mosquito-borne diseases is growing - and with it, the need for ongoing vigilance and public health preparedness.
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