Latest news with #DrArranFolly
The Guardian
21-05-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
West Nile virus detected in UK mosquitoes for first time
West Nile virus has been detected in genetic material of mosquitoes collected in Britain for the first time, the UK Health Security Agency has reported. The agency assessed the risk to the general public as 'very low' and said there was no evidence of transmission to humans or that the virus had become endemic. The detection in mosquitoes collected in Nottinghamshire follows warnings that the geographical boundaries for serious vector-borne diseases, including West Nile virus, dengue and yellow fever, are moving steadily northwards due to climate change. Dr Arran Folly, an arbovirologist at the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) and lead of the surveillance programme that tested the mosquitoes, said: '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.' West Nile virus is usually found in birds and typically circulates through Aedes vexans mosquitoes, which prefer to bite birds but in rare cases can transmit the virus to humans or horses. Most human infections are asymptomatic, with approximately one in five people developing a fever, headache, body aches and other flu-like symptoms and a very small percentage developing severe neurological illnesses such as encephalitis or meningitis. Aedes vexans mosquitoes are native to the UK and, while uncommon, their numbers can boom in summer in flooded river landscapes. Experts suggest the virus may have arrived on an infected bird. For the disease to become endemic, climate is crucial, because the virus replicates far more rapidly when it is hot. At 15C it takes several months – longer than a mosquito's average lifespan – for the virus to reach the infectious threshold. At 30C, the same process takes two to three weeks, meaning the virus can take root in a mosquito population. The virus was detected through the Vector-Borne Radar (Real-time Arbovirus Detection and Response) programme by APHA in Aedes vexans mosquitoes collected by the UKHSA from wetlands on the River Idle near Gamston, Nottinghamshire, in July 2023. The mosquitoes were pooled into groups of 10 for testing, and fragments of West Nile virus genetic material were identified in two of the pools. The other 198 pools were negative. This is the first evidence of West Nile virus detected in a mosquito in the UK. West Nile virus is endemic in various regions around the globe, including southern Europe, Africa, the Middle East, North America and Australia. The geographic range of West Nile virus has expanded in recent years to more northern and western regions of mainland Europe as long, hot summers have become more frequent. There have been no cases of locally acquired West Nile virus detected in humans or horses in the UK to date and there is no evidence to suggest ongoing circulation of the virus in birds or mosquitoes. Disease surveillance and control activities are being enhanced in light of the findings and advice has been issued to healthcare professionals so that patients with encephalitis of unknown cause can be tested as a precaution. Dr Meera Chand, the UKHSA deputy director for travel health, zoonoses, emerging infections, respiratory and tuberculosis, said: '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.' Paul Hunter, a professor in medicine at the University of East Anglia, said: 'The immediate risk is probably not great to human health. But as the summers get warmer and longer, the northern boundary of West Nile virus will shift north and we will likely start seeing endemic infections, initially in the south of the country.'
The Sun
17-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Warning to anyone who sees blackbirds in their garden this summer over deadly virus decimating critical species
A WARNING has been issued to gardeners to look out for blackbirds this summer. Almost half of the species' population has been decimated from a mosquito-borne disease. 1 Scientists are now calling on UK households with gardens to monitor blackbird population. Anyone whose garden gets frequented by the bird has been asked to participate in a national research. The deadly Usutu virus has reduced the blackbird population in Greater London by 40 per cent since 2020. The disease is spreading rapidly across the UK, especially in the southern parts of England. Now, there are concerns that more mosquito-borne diseases could spread in the future. Dr Arran Folly from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) told BBC: "We've seen that the virus has spread further than we thought it might do, and it's persisted. "Blackbirds specifically are quite susceptible to the virus. "It gives an indication that in the future we might get other viruses that are transmitted by mosquitoes emerging in the UK." Scientists have urged the public to note how many blackbirds they see within a particular time frame and enter that information into a survey. You will also be asked to look out for any behaviours such as foraging for food. 'Intense' mystery symptoms with baseball-sized swelling in mosquito bite victims leave doctors stumped Participants are encouraged to complete one survey per week. The British Trust for Ornithology said: "The Blackbirds in Gardens project will help us understand how Blackbirds use gardens, and the potential effects of the Usutu virus on their population in the UK. "If you have access to a garden, have an interest in garden birds and can recognise a Blackbird by sight, then this survey could be for you!" The survey will run until September and takes 15 minutes to complete. It comes as gardeners have been warned to postpone one common task during Spring. The warning has even been backed by Sir David Attenborough. Top 5 Spring Gardening Jobs *If you click a link in this boxout, we may earn affiliate revenue Nick Grey, Gtech Inventor and CEO shared the tasks to crack on with as Spring arrives. 1. Clean your garden Make sure to clear away all leaves, soil and plant debris from your patios and flower beds; this creates a healthier environment for new growth, especially as we get into the summer months. Gtech's Garden Safety Kit includes durable gardening gloves and safety glasses; perfect for comfortability whilst tackling those outdoor tasks. 2. Weeding Early Spring is the best time to tackle weeds; if you can introduce some regular weeding into your routine, you can guarantee a tidy garden all year round. 3. Hedge maintenance Spring is the ideal time to tidy up overgrown hedges and shrubs, as regular trimming ensures healthy growth and reduces pest issues. Using a tool like the Gtech Lightweight Hedge Trimmer can help to keep your greenery looking sharp and neat. 4. Composting Starting a compost heap this spring is a pro-active, cost-effective way to harness nutritious soil for your plants and recycle organic waste that will benefit the overall health of your greenery and foliage. 5. Look after your lawn Lawn care is hugely important in assuring your garden stays looking beautiful. Make sure to rake away any excess leaves and trim your grass routinely.
The Independent
16-05-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Blackbirds under new threat after new mosquito-born disease arrives in UK
Scientists are racing to monitor the spread of a mosquito-borne disease which has been linked to a decline in the blackbird population. The disease Usutu has spread across much of southern England over the last five years, and is easily transmitted to the songsters. Mosquitos are a growing risk for the UK's wildlife, with longer summers and hotter temperatures due to climate change meaning they are increasingly breeding in northern Europe. Scientists at the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) have been tracking mosquito-borne diseases in wild birds, with results coming back all clear until 2020. However, after that summer's heatwave, Usutu, which originates from Africa, was detected in several blackbirds in Greater London. "Blackbirds specifically are quite susceptible to the virus and since 2020 we've found a decline in blackbirds of approximately 40% in Greater London," said Dr Arran Folly of APHA. "It gives an indication that in the future we might get other viruses that are transmitted by mosquitoes emerging in the UK." The virus was first detected more than 50 years ago around southern Africa's Usutu river, but has since spread around the world. It can also infect horses and occasionally humans, but is regarded as low risk to people. However, over the last five years the disease has spread across much of southern England at a speed that has taken scientists by surprise. It has now been detected in birds as far north as Cambridgeshire, with concerns that it will impact the number of blackbirds in the UK, who are currently one of the commonest garden birds. In other parts of Europe, Usutu has been linked to mass die-offs of blackbirds but this is yet to be the case in the UK. Over the summer months, large numbers of wild birds have been found dead without prior evidence of ill-health, or a short period of lethargy, loss of coordination and seizures.
BBC News
14-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Mosquito-borne killer disease threatens blackbirds
A mosquito-borne disease freshly arrived in Britain has spread large distances, with scientists racing to understand the risks to wild insects can spread the deadly Usutu virus to blackbirds, raising fears for the famous data shows Usutu has spread across much of southern England in five years, and has been linked to declines in some blackbird are monitoring its spread amid warnings that mosquitoes and the diseases they carry may expand their range under climate change."We've seen that the virus has spread further than we thought it might do, and it's persisted," Dr Arran Folly of the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) told the BBC. Scientists at the APHA in Weybridge, Surrey, have been tracking mosquito-borne diseases in wild birds for decades, amid warnings that climate change is turning Europe into a potential breeding ground for the summers, hotter temperatures and heavy rainfall are creating conditions for the nuisance insects to move into areas that were previously inhospitable to 2020, all results came back clear. Then, after the summer heatwave of that year, Usutu was detected in several blackbirds in Greater London. "Blackbirds specifically are quite susceptible to the virus and since 2020 we've found a decline in blackbirds of approximately 40% in Greater London," said Dr Folly."It gives an indication that in the future we might get other viruses that are transmitted by mosquitoes emerging in the UK."Diseases such as Usutu are a growing threat to wild birds, amid a host of other pressures, including habitat loss, climate change and pesticide use. What is Usutu? Usutu virus was first detected more than half a century ago around southern Africa's Usutu RiverIt has since spread around the world, reaching Europe three decades ago, and was picked up for the first time in the UK in 2020Blackbirds are particularly susceptible to the virus, which can also infect horses and, from time to time, virus is regarded as generally of low risk to people, and there have been no human cases reported in the UK to date. The latest data shows that Usutu has spread further than the scientists has now been detected in wild birds across much of southern England, at least as far west as Dorset and as far north as big a risk Usutu poses to wild birds is uncertain. The virus has been linked to mass die-offs of blackbirds elsewhere in Europe, though that doesn't seem to be the case in the blackbird remains one of the commonest garden birds with numbers holding steady in many parts of the country, especially in rural areas, and in the north. To untangle the puzzle – and gather more data on blackbird numbers – the scientists have joined forces with the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO).They are calling for volunteers to count blackbirds in their gardens over the summer months to find out more about the comings and goings of the now blackbirds are breeding and raising their young, frequently seen hopping along the ground and singing from the branches of trees on summer evenings. Lucy Love, a garden birdwatch ambassador for the BTO, knows the blackbirds in her gardens by sight and has grown fond of them."They're beautiful birds – intelligent, friendly and they have the most beautiful song with a lovely melodic tone to it," she explained. "And we cannot lose them – they're a vital part of our ecosystem."
