The West Nile virus has been detected in mosquitoes collected in Britain for the first time, the UK Health Security Agency said.
The virus, which mostly spreads through mosquito bites, can cause severe, life-threatening illness in about 1 in 150 people who are infected, according to the World Health Organisation.
The agency classified the risk to the public as ‘very low’, noting no signs of human transmission or evidence that the virus has become widespread.
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West Nile virus often causes mild or no symptoms, but around 1 in 5 infected individuals may develop headaches, high fever, or skin problems. In rare instances, it can lead to severe and potentially fatal brain infections such as encephalitis or meningitis.
West Nile virus is usually present in parts of Africa, Asia, South America, and Europe. The discovery of the virus in mosquitoes in the UK comes amid warnings that climate change is pushing the range of serious vector-borne diseases, including the West Nile virus, dengue, and yellow fever, steadily northward.
“The detection of the 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,” Dr. Arran Folly, an arbovirologist at the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) and leader of the surveillance program that tested the mosquitoes, said, as the Guardian reported.
There is currently no specific treatment or vaccine available for humans. While no cases have been reported within the UK, seven travel-related infections have been reported since 2000.
