Overview

• The mosquito-borne Usutu virus, first detected in the UK in 2020 after a summer heatwave, has rapidly spread across southern England over five years.
• Blackbird populations in Greater London have declined by approximately 40% since 2020 due to their high susceptibility to the virus.
• The British Trust for Ornithology has launched the 'Blackbirds in Gardens' survey to collect public data on blackbird numbers and behaviors through September 2025.
• The Vector-Borne RADAR initiative, involving multiple agencies, is monitoring the virus's spread and its ecological implications in a warming climate.
• Scientists warn that rising temperatures and wetter summers may enable mosquitoes to expand their range, increasing the risk of similar viruses emerging in the UK.