Virus of Western Nile was first discovered in the United Kingdom star-news.press/wp

Western Nile Virus was first discovered in the United Kingdom, they say health officials in the UK.

The risk of the general public is “very low” and although the virus can make people seriously ill get sick in rare cases, there is no evidence that spreads in the UK, added health care agency (UKHSA).

Virus of Western Nile, the spread through mosquitoes biting birds, It is located in many parts of the world, including land Europe.

Climate change and other factors push mosquitoes – and diseases that carry – further north in recent years.

To date, there were no human cases of Western Nila viruses acquired in the UK – although since 2000. there were seven cases of diseases related to traveling to other countries.

The virus of Western Nile is usually present in several regions around the world, including parts of Africa, Asia, South America and Europe and has expanded in recent years.

The UKHSA and the Animal Agency and the Animals (Apha) found fragments of viruses in mosquitoes collected on ponds near Retford, Nottinghamshire in 2023. Years.

“Although this is the first discovery of the Western Nile in Mosquito in the UK, because it is not unexpected as the virus is already widespread in Europe,” said Dr. Meera Chand, Deputy Director for Travel and Infections in Ukhs.

Dr. Arran Folly, who led the project that found the virus, said that its discovery was part of “the broader change of landscapes, where, in the midclimean change disease, hair spreads in new areas.”

While Aedes Vexans Mosquito is originally in Britain, he added that heating temperatures can bring an inar in the UK and, with them, the potential of contagious diseases.

Virus of Western Nile causes or very smaller symptoms or nothing – but about 20% of infected people can experience headaches, high temperature and skin problems. In rare cases, it can kill a serious brain of the disease, including encephalitis or meningitis.

There are no specific treatment or vaccines for humans.

Prof. James Logan, from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said the development was “serious”, but there was no need to be disturbed.

He said that surveillance systems were in force to monitor the increased mosquito activity and moving the migration of birds caused by warm weather.

“But as the conditions change, we must remain one step ahead,” he said.

“This is a moment to recognize that the United Kingdom is no longer immune to some diseases sometimes consider” tropical “.”

Prof. Logan said the virus would probably arrive over the infected bird or mosquito, which can both considerable distances during seasonal migration.

Infected mosquitoes can convey the virus to people, he said, but there was no “no evidence of the human infection acquired in the UK”.

“However, the discovery of viruses in mosquitoes means a significant step in that direction,” he added.

Affected mosquitoes, one of many thousands of mosquito species, It is often found in wet areas. Experts recommend that standing water sources are resolved where personal measures are grown and undertake of repalent mosquitoes and bed beds.

Last year, The protests were held in Seville, Spain, After the death of five people infected with the disease.