Mosquitoes in the UK now carry a dangerous virus, here's how to stay safe this summer
For the first time, the
West Nile virus
(
WNV
) has been detected in mosquitoes in the United Kingdom, according to the
UK Health Security Agency
(UKHSA). The virus was identified in Aedes vexans mosquitoes collected from wetlands near the River Idle in Nottinghamshire during July 2023 as part of the Vector-Borne RADAR surveillance program.
WNV is primarily transmitted between birds and mosquitoes but can infect humans and horses occasionally. While most human cases are asymptomatic, about 20% of infected individuals may experience flu-like symptoms, and in rare instances, severe neurological conditions such as encephalitis or meningitis can occur.
Dr. Meera Chand, Deputy Director at UKHSA, stated, "While this is the first detection of
West Nile
Virus in mosquitoes in the UK so far, it is not unexpected as the virus is already widespread in Europe."
The risk to the general public is currently assessed as very low, with no evidence of the virus circulating in birds or mosquitoes beyond the detected samples. However, health authorities are enhancing surveillance and advising healthcare professionals to consider WNV in cases of unexplained encephalitis.
Dr. Arran Folly, who led the project, noted, "The detection of West Nile virus in the UK is part of a wider changing landscape, where, in the wake of climate change,
mosquito-borne diseases
are expanding to new areas."
Live Events
How to stay safe from West Nile Virus(WNV)
Even though the risk is low, health experts recommend the following steps to stay protected:
Avoid mosquito bites: Use
insect repellents
that contain DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus.
Wear protective clothing: Long sleeves, trousers, and socks help reduce skin exposure.
Use mosquito nets: Especially when sleeping outdoors or in areas with high mosquito activity.
Remove standing water: Empty flower pots, birdbaths, or buckets where mosquitoes can breed.
Install screens: Use window and door screens to keep mosquitoes out of your home.
FAQs
What is the West Nile virus caused by?
A single-stranded RNA virus from the Flavivirus genus causes West Nile virus. It is primarily transmitted to humans through the bite of infected female mosquitoes, mainly of the Culex species. The virus cycles between mosquitoes and birds, with humans as incidental hosts.
Are dengue and West Nile virus the same?
No, dengue and West Nile virus are not the same, though both are flaviviruses transmitted by mosquitoes. Dengue fever symptoms include high fever, headache, and joint pain, while West Nile virus often presents flu-like or neurological symptoms. West Nile can cause encephalitis or meningitis, which is less common than dengue.
Is there a West Nile virus in the UK?
Yes, West Nile virus has been detected in mosquitoes in the UK. Aedes vexans mosquitoes collected in Nottinghamshire in July 2023 tested positive. There's no evidence of ongoing virus circulation, and no locally acquired human or horse cases have been reported. The risk to the general public remains very low.
Which mosquito carries the West Nile virus?
The West Nile virus is primarily carried and transmitted by mosquitoes of the genus Culex, especially species such as Culex pipiens, Culex tarsalis, and Culex quinquefasciatus. These mosquitoes feed mainly from evening to morning and are the primary vectors spreading the virus among birds and humans.
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First Post
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- First Post
In a first, UK reports West Nile virus in mosquitoes; experts blame it on climate change
In what is being seen a consequence of climate change, the West Nile virus has been detected in the United Kingdom for the first time. As temperatures are rising across the world, diseases are popping in places with no history of that disease. The West Nile virus in the UK is just one such example. read more A vector control team vehicle displays a sign warning of West Nile Virus before the early morning spraying of a neighborhood due to increasing numbers of mosquitoes having tested positive for West Nile virus in San Diego, California, U.S. May 18, 2016. (Representative Photo, Credit: Reuters) For the first time, the West Nile virus has been detected in the United Kingdom. Climate change is being considered as the culprit. In a routine mosquito surveillance programme, the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) found the West Nile virus in a batch of aedes vexans mosquitoes collected from marshlands on Idle river in Nottinghamshire. No case has been detected in the UK so far and experts say that the risk of an outbreak is very low. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD While the West Nile virus has been endemic to Africa and West Asia for decades, the climate change-induced warming up of Europe has brought the virus to the continent as well. The UK is the latest European country to report the virus. The West Nile virus is primarily found in birds. Mosquitoes that bite birds get the virus and occasionally transfer it to humans with their bites. As much as 80 per cent of human infections cause no symptoms and severe infections are rare. In severe cases, encephalitis can occur and can lead to brain damage and even death. While the virus is not contagious among humans, it can spread from an infected person via blood transfusion, organ transplants, pregnancy, or breastfeeding. Climate change brings West Nile virus to UK The confirmation of the West Nile virus in the UK follows warnings that carriers of vector-borne diseases, such as dengue and yellow fever, are moving northwards from their traditional areas due to climate change. Dr Arran Folly, an arbovirologist at the APHA and head of the surveillance programme that found the virus in the UK told Guardian that the discovery is 'part of a wider changing landscape where, in the wake of climate change, mosquito-borne diseases are expanding to new areas'. The warming up of a place makes it likelier for the West Nile virus to grow. At 15*C, it takes many months for the virus to reach infectious level, which is much more than a mosquito's average lifespan. At 30*C, however, the same process can happen in two-three weeks, which is within a mosquito's average lifespan. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In an article for The Conversation, Dr Paul Hunter noted that while the exact route of West Nile virus to the UK is not clear, it is believed that the virus may have arrived via migratory birds infected elsewhere. So far, conditions ripe for a West Nile virus outbreak in the UK have not been reached but that could change if temperatures keep rising. 'For a local outbreak to occur, there would need to be a critical mass of infected birds and mosquitoes, with enough warm weather to sustain multiple cycles of transmission. So far, that hasn't happened in the UK. But climate change could alter the equation. With rising global temperatures and longer, hotter summers, the conditions that allow viruses such as West Nile to spread may become more common in the UK,' noted Hunter, a specialist in medical microbiology and virology. As temperatures are rising across the world, diseases are being reported in places with no history of that disease. The West Nile virus in the UK is just one such example. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
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Time of India
21-05-2025
- Time of India
Mosquitoes in the UK now carry a dangerous virus, here's how to stay safe this summer
For the first time, the West Nile virus ( WNV ) has been detected in mosquitoes in the United Kingdom, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). The virus was identified in Aedes vexans mosquitoes collected from wetlands near the River Idle in Nottinghamshire during July 2023 as part of the Vector-Borne RADAR surveillance program. WNV is primarily transmitted between birds and mosquitoes but can infect humans and horses occasionally. While most human cases are asymptomatic, about 20% of infected individuals may experience flu-like symptoms, and in rare instances, severe neurological conditions such as encephalitis or meningitis can occur. Dr. Meera Chand, Deputy Director at UKHSA, stated, "While this is the first detection of West Nile Virus in mosquitoes in the UK so far, it is not unexpected as the virus is already widespread in Europe." The risk to the general public is currently assessed as very low, with no evidence of the virus circulating in birds or mosquitoes beyond the detected samples. However, health authorities are enhancing surveillance and advising healthcare professionals to consider WNV in cases of unexplained encephalitis. Dr. Arran Folly, who led the project, noted, "The detection of West Nile virus in the UK is part of a wider changing landscape, where, in the wake of climate change, mosquito-borne diseases are expanding to new areas." Live Events How to stay safe from West Nile Virus(WNV) Even though the risk is low, health experts recommend the following steps to stay protected: Avoid mosquito bites: Use insect repellents that contain DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Wear protective clothing: Long sleeves, trousers, and socks help reduce skin exposure. Use mosquito nets: Especially when sleeping outdoors or in areas with high mosquito activity. Remove standing water: Empty flower pots, birdbaths, or buckets where mosquitoes can breed. Install screens: Use window and door screens to keep mosquitoes out of your home. FAQs What is the West Nile virus caused by? A single-stranded RNA virus from the Flavivirus genus causes West Nile virus. It is primarily transmitted to humans through the bite of infected female mosquitoes, mainly of the Culex species. The virus cycles between mosquitoes and birds, with humans as incidental hosts. Are dengue and West Nile virus the same? No, dengue and West Nile virus are not the same, though both are flaviviruses transmitted by mosquitoes. Dengue fever symptoms include high fever, headache, and joint pain, while West Nile virus often presents flu-like or neurological symptoms. West Nile can cause encephalitis or meningitis, which is less common than dengue. Is there a West Nile virus in the UK? Yes, West Nile virus has been detected in mosquitoes in the UK. Aedes vexans mosquitoes collected in Nottinghamshire in July 2023 tested positive. There's no evidence of ongoing virus circulation, and no locally acquired human or horse cases have been reported. The risk to the general public remains very low. Which mosquito carries the West Nile virus? The West Nile virus is primarily carried and transmitted by mosquitoes of the genus Culex, especially species such as Culex pipiens, Culex tarsalis, and Culex quinquefasciatus. These mosquitoes feed mainly from evening to morning and are the primary vectors spreading the virus among birds and humans.
