West Nile virus. WNV detected for the first time at mosquitoes in Great Britain

West Nile Virus (WNV) appeared at mosquito mosquitoes on the Idle River near Gamston in Nottinghamshire. Scientists suppose he could come on an attacked bird.

The infected mosquitoes were pasture bounds (Aedes vexans). This species lives almost all over the world. As for the pathogen, it occurs in Africa, the Middle East, North America and Australia, as well as in the south of Europe. Its geographical range has expanded in recent years to the north, because the hot years have become more frequent there.

– The detection of the Western Nile virus in Great Britain is part of the changing landscape, in which as a result of climate change the diseases transmitted by mosquitoes spread to new areas – emphasized the researcher quoted by “Guardian” by “Guardian” from Arran Folly, a researcher who conducted tests on mosquitoes.

He was followed by Paul Hunter, a professor of medicine at the University of Eastern England:

– […] As the years will become warmer and longer, the northern border of the Western Nile virus will move north and we will probably start observing endemic infections, initially in the south of the country.

At 30 degrees Celsius, the WNV replication process lasts from two to three weeks, and this means that it has a chance to settle in the mosquito population.

The virus usually attacks birds, but in rare cases it can be transferred to people or horses. Most infections in humans are asymptomatic. One in five people pass the WNV, feeling as if they were suffering from flu, and only a small percentage falls on severe neurological diseases.

UKHSA assessed the risk of virus in the UK as “very low” and stated that there was no evidence to transfer the virus to people, or that he became endemic in this region. However, taking into account the discovery, healthcare workers were recommended that patients with encephalitis of an unknown cause should order appropriate tests.