The UK government has published a contingency plan for West Nile virus (WNV) after the disease-carrying mosquitoes were detected in the country. The virus, which has no vaccine, claimed 67 lives across Europe in a 12-month period.
West Nile virus is transmitted through bites from infected Culex mosquitoes, which acquire the virus from birds. While 80% of infected individuals show no symptoms, about 20% develop mild flu-like illness, and less than 1% may suffer severe neurological diseases such as meningitis or encephalitis, which can be fatal.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed that no human cases have been acquired in the UK to date, but the virus has been found in mosquitoes. The risk to the public is considered very low, though it may increase with climate change. The agency noted that WNV is now endemic in parts of Europe and the United States.
The contingency plan advises GPs to report suspected cases immediately. High-risk groups include those over 50, individuals with underlying conditions such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and kidney disease, and organ transplant recipients. The case fatality rate is highest among patients over 70.
Mosquitoes carrying the virus have been found along the Thames estuary, Suffolk, the Cambridgeshire Fens, and the south coast in Sussex and Hampshire. Their distribution is expanding, likely due to climate change. The UKHSA emphasised that prevention is key, as no human vaccine is available.
