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The Independent
23-05-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Deadly West Nile virus found in UK mosquitoes. What you need to know
For the first time, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has detected signs of the West Nile virus in mosquitoes within the UK, prompting increased disease surveillance. While the risk to the public remains "very low," the UKHSA has confirmed that surveillance and control measures are being intensified. This development comes as experts warn that climate change is driving the spread of mosquito-borne diseases to new regions. The UKHSA and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) said 'fragments of West Nile Virus genetic material' were found in some Aedes vexans mosquitoes collected in wetlands on the River Idle at Gamston, near Retford in Nottinghamshire, in July 2023. What is the West Nile virus? West Nile virus is usually found in birds, and usually circulates through bird-biting mosquitoes. In rare cases mosquitoes can transmit the virus to humans or horses. While there have been no cases of West Nile Virus acquired in the UK, seven cases linked to travel have been identified since the year 2000. The UKHSA said there is 'no evidence to suggest ongoing circulation of the virus in birds or mosquitoes in the UK'. But it said that 'disease surveillance and control activities are being enhanced in light of the findings'. And it is issuing advice to health workers so that patients with encephalitis – or swelling of the brain – of an unknown cause can be tested as a precaution. Dr Meera Chand, from the UKHSA, 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. 'Vector research of this kind is designed to give us early warning of potential threats so that we can enhance our disease surveillance and control activities and ensure patients receive appropriate testing.' What are the symptoms of West Nile Virus? West Nile Virus, which typically causes flu-like symptoms but can lead to severe illness, is endemic in various parts of the world and experts said that the 'geographic range' has expanded in recent years to more northerly and western regions of mainland Europe. The UKHSA said that as temperatures warm due to climate change, tick and mosquito species not currently native to the UK will begin to find the UK's climate more 'bearable'. Other types of mosquito can arrive in the UK by various means including becoming trapped in cars and lorries crossing borders and in shipping containers. Dr Arran Folly, from the APHA, added: '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. 'Our primary focus is to understand how viruses move into the country and how they are transmitted. 'Combined, this can help us identify areas that may be at increased risk of outbreaks.' Dr Jolyon Medlock, from the UKHSA, added: ' Mosquitoes in the UK are also commonly found in wet woodland areas and various aquatic habitats, including ponds, ditches, marshes, and even garden water butts or cisterns. 'To avoid being bitten by a mosquito when in these types of areas, wear long-sleeved clothing and trousers to cover your arms and legs, use insect repellent on your skin (ideally one that contains the ingredient DEET), close windows and doors whenever possible, or use blinds or screens.'
Medscape
21-05-2025
- Health
- Medscape
West Nile Virus Found in UK Mosquitoes for the First Time
Genetic fragments of the West Nile virus (WNV) have been detected in mosquitoes in the UK for the first time during a national surveillance programme. The virus was identified in two samples of the Aedes vexans species of mosquito collected in July 2023 from wetlands on the River Idle near Gamston in Nottinghamshire. These results are part of the Vector-Borne RADAR (Real-time Arbovirus Detection And Response) programme, which uses polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing to detect zoonotic, mosquito-borne viruses in the UK. The programme is run by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). The UKHSA said that more than 30,000 mosquitoes and 300 birds from high-risk areas of England were tested in 2023 and 2024. All other samples tested negative. Detection of WNV in mosquitoes in the UK is 'not unexpected', according to Dr Meera Chand, deputy director at the UKHSA, who explained that the virus is already widespread in Europe. 'The risk to the general public is currently assessed as very low,' she added. Migratory Birds May Have Brought WNV to UK WNV is a vector-borne disease of the Flaviviridae family, which also includes the viruses that cause dengue and yellow fever. It is usually found in birds, and typically circulates through bird-biting mosquitoes. Professor Grant Hughes, from the Department of Vector Biology at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, told the Science Media Centre: 'The virus potentially entered the UK via migratory birds.' In rare cases mosquitoes can transmit the virus to humans or horses. However, there have been no cases of locally acquired WNV detected in humans or horses in the UK to date, the UKHSA noted. James Logan, professor of medical entomology at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said, 'the detection of the virus in mosquitoes marks a significant step in that direction'. Most people infected with WNV are asymptomatic or present with mild influenza-like symptoms that resolve within a few days. However, a small number of cases — fewer than 1% — develop more severe illness, including encephalitis. The UKHSA has issued advice to healthcare professionals to consider WNV testing for patients with unexplained encephalitis. Testing is available through the UKHSA's Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory. Nuisance Biting Aedes vexans is native to the UK and, although uncommon, can occur at high densities in river floodplains and lakes. They are known to cause considerable nuisance biting to humans where aquatic areas are close to habitation. 'Mosquitoes breed in a range of natural wetlands, but can also be common in gardens – breeding in container habitats like water butts and buckets,' highlighted Dr Jolyon Medlock, head of medical entomology and zoonoses ecology at the UKHSA. The agency encourages the public to report unusual mosquito activity via its mosquito surveillance scheme . Climate Changes WNV is endemic in parts of Africa, Asia, the Americas, and southern Europe. Its range has expanded in recent years, reaching more northern and western parts of Europe. The UKHSA's 2023 report on climate change and health warned that climate change could lead to mosquitoes carrying dengue fever becoming established in parts of southern England by the middle of the century, as well as a rise in vector-borne diseases. '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,' said Dr Arran Folly, arbovirologist at the APHA and lead of the Vector-Borne RADAR programme. Professor Matthew Baylis, chair in veterinary epidemiology at the University of Liverpool, called for increased surveillance in mosquitoes, birds, and humans. For now, the UKHSA advises that the main risk to UK residents remains travel to countries where WNV is endemic.
Times
21-05-2025
- Health
- Times
West Nile virus: deadly disease found in UK mosquitoes
A life-threatening tropical virus has been found in mosquitoes in Britain for the first time, which scientists attributed to climate change spreading the disease to cooler regions. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) detected fragments of the West Nile virus in mosquitoes collected from wetlands on the River Idle near Retford, Nottinghamshire. The virus can cause flu-like symptoms and further dangers including coma. It is endemic across Africa, Asia and the Americas and in recent years has moved to parts of Europe. The UKHSA said the risk to the public was 'very low' and that the virus was not widely circulating. However, it has increased its surveillance efforts and is advising health workers to test patients with symptoms including brain swelling for the virus as
Telegraph
21-05-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
West Nile virus detected in Britain's mosquitoes for first time
The West Nile virus has been detected in mosquitoes in the UK for the first time, health officials have announced. Fragments of the virus, which belongs a group that can cause dengue and yellow fever, were identified in Aedes vexans mosquitos found in wetlands on the River Idle near Retford, Nottinghamshire. There have been no confirmed human cases of the virus in Britain and the current risk to the public is 'very low', the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said. But it added that 'disease surveillance and control activities are being enhanced in light of the findings'. The warming climate has meant different species of mosquitoes, and the viruses they carry, are increasingly able to survive on the British Isles, raising the prospect of other deadly diseases such as malaria becoming commonplace in the future. The virus is already commonly found across Africa, Asia and the Americas, and has expanded in recent years to more northerly and western parts of Europe. Since 2000, seven cases have been identified in Britain from those who have contracted the virus abroad. Infects the brain and nervous system Most people will experience no or minimal flu-like symptoms, according to the Government's guidance, but around one in 150 cases can be severe. As well as a fever, headache, and fatigue, other symptoms can include rashes on the limbs, neck or trunk, as well as swollen lymph nodes. In severe cases, it can infect the brain and nervous system, presenting as meningitis, encephalitis (brain swelling), or a very sudden onset of weakness 'with high fever, neck stiffness, disorientation or confusion, severe muscle weakness, tremors, convulsions, paralysis and coma'. New advice has been issued to doctors and healthcare professionals to test for the virus in cases where a cause of brain swelling or inflammation could not be found. Those aged over 50 years old or with underlying conditions such as cancer, high blood pressure or diabetes, were at greatest risk, while fatality rates were highest in the over 70s. Early-warning system Dr Meera Chand, the deputy director for travel health and emerging infections at UKHSA, said the finding was 'not unexpected as the virus is already widespread in Europe'. She added that 'research of this kind is designed to give us early warning of potential threats so that we can enhance our disease surveillance'. The West Nile virus is usually found in birds and circulates through bird-biting mosquitoes but can be transmitted to horses as well as humans. Dr Arran Folly, an arbovirologist at the Animal and Plant Health Agency and the lead of the Vector-Borne RADAR project, tasked with identifying new threats, said it was 'part of a wider changing landscape, where, in the wake of climate change mosquito-borne diseases are expanding to new areas'. 'Our primary focus is to understand how viruses move into the country and how they are transmitted. Combined this can help us identify areas that may be at increased risk of outbreaks,' he said.
Sky News
21-05-2025
- Health
- Sky News
West Nile virus found in UK mosquitos for first time
West Nile virus has been found in mosquitoes collected in the UK for the first time, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has said. The virus, which mostly spreads to people through mosquito bites, can cause severe, life-threatening flu-like illness in about one in 150 people who are infected, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Mosquitoes pick up the virus from birds they bite and, in rare cases, can pass it on to people or horses. Research by the UKHSA and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has now detected the virus in fragments of Aedes vexans mosquitoes collected from wetlands on the River Idle near Retford, Nottinghamshire, in July 2023. This is the first time West Nile virus has been found in mosquitoes in the UK. No cases of local transmission to humans have been registered in Britain to date, and the UKHSA assessed the risk to the general public as "very low". The agency said in a statement that, based on available surveillance, there was no evidence to suggest ongoing circulation of the virus in birds or mosquitoes in the UK. Nevertheless, the UKHSA issued advice to healthcare professionals enabling them to test patients with encephalitis (swelling of the brain) of an unknown cause for West Nile virus as a precaution. It will also enhance disease surveillance and control activities in light of the findings. "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," Dr Meera Chand, UKHSA deputy director for travel health, zoonoses, emerging infections, respiratory and tuberculosis, said. Dr Arran Folly, leading the project which detected the virus, said finding it in Britain was "part of a wider changing landscape, where, in the wake of climate change mosquito-borne diseases are expanding to new areas". He said the Aedes vexans mosquito is native to the UK. But warming temperatures could also bring non-native species capable of transmitting infectious diseases to humans into the country as they could find it easier to survive, reproduce and establish a local population here. The main risk for contracting West Nile virus for UK residents is travel to endemic areas, which include Europe, Africa, the Middle East, West and Central Asia, North and South America, Australia and the US.
