Deadly West Nile virus found for the first time in UK mosquitoes
The deadly West Nile Virus has been found in a UK first, and health experts are now taking measures to try and contain it. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) identified fragments of the fatal virus' genetic material in mosquitoes collected in the UK for the first time ever.
West Nile Virus is a vector borne disease that belongs to the Flaviviridae family. Similar diseases that belong to this same family include viruses that cause dengue and yellow fever.
Although the disease circulates through mosquitoes, it is usually found in birds that have been bitten by the infected insects. Humans and horses have rarely contracted the disease after being bitten by infected mosquitoes, reported the Mirror.
The virus is endemic in various regions across the world, including Europe, Africa, the Middle East, West and Central Asia, and North America, as well as South America, USA and Australia.
The geographic range of West Nile Virus has expanded in recent years to more northerly and western regions of mainland Europe.
But it has never been found in the UK before.
Most people infected with West Nile Virus are asymptomatic or present with mild influenza -like symptoms such as fever, headache or myalgia, swollen lymph nodes and a rash.
While most mild infections resolve within a few days, a small number of cases - under one percent - can cause more severe illness.
Dr Meera Chand, 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. 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.'
There have been no cases of locally acquired West Nile Virus detected in humans or horses in the UK to date, although seven travel-associated cases have occurred since 2000.
Experts said that on available surveillance, there is no evidence to suggest ongoing circulation of the virus in birds or mosquitoes in the UK.
At the moment, the main risk of West Nile Virus for UK residents continues to be travel to endemic areas abroad.
Dr Arran Folly, Arbovirologist at APHA and lead of the Vector-Borne RADAR project, 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. Only through continued surveillance can we assess the risk to animal and public health.
'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.
'The Vector-Borne RADAR project brings together a wealth of expertise across government and wildlife charities, to enhance the surveillance we undertake in the United Kingdom for mosquito-borne diseases."
"Aedes vexans are native to the UK and although they can be found widely at very low densities, in a few locations in England they can occur at high densities associated with summer flooded river landscapes.
"While uncommon, they are known to cause nuisance biting in a small number of areas in the country, including in villages along the River Idle near Retford, Nottinghamshire, where summer flooding and poor drainage is experienced.
"Recent efforts have taken place to manage the mosquito populations and to minimise suitable habitats for the main nuisance biting mosquito."
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