Particle.news
Download on the App Store
8 ARTICLES
·
last wk.

West Nile Virus Detected in UK Mosquitoes for the First Time

Health officials confirm the virus's presence in native mosquitoes, assess human risk as very low, and link its emergence to climate-driven vector expansion.

Image
Image
Image
Image

Overview

  • UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) detected West Nile virus genetic material in Aedes vexans mosquitoes in Nottinghamshire wetlands in July 2023.
  • This marks the first confirmed detection of the virus in native UK mosquitoes, though no locally acquired human cases have been recorded to date.
  • Officials have intensified surveillance and control measures, including advising healthcare providers to test encephalitis cases of unknown origin.
  • Experts attribute the virus's arrival to climate change, which is enabling mosquito-borne diseases to expand into new regions, including the UK.
  • Preventive guidance includes using insect repellents, wearing protective clothing, and eliminating standing water to reduce mosquito breeding grounds.