Health officials in the UK have raised the alarm after a "paralyzing" and potentially deadly disease spread by mosquitoes was discovered for the first time in insects in Britain.
West Nile virus, which is usually found in Africa, the Middle East and South Asia, has been detected in mosquitoes circulating in Nottinghamshire, sparking fears of infection in humans.
So far, no cases of local transmission have been reported in Britain, but since 2000 there have been seven cases imported by travellers.
This virus usually circulates between birds and the mosquitoes that feed on them, but in rare cases it can be transmitted to humans through mosquito bites.
Experts urge vigilance and investment in long-term preparation
"This is the moment to acknowledge that the UK is no longer immune to some diseases that were previously considered tropical," said Professor James Logan, a specialist in mosquito-borne diseases at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.
The UK Health Safety Agency (UKHSA) stressed that the risk to the public remains "very low" and the virus "does not spread easily between people." However, measures to monitor and control mosquitoes have been strengthened.
Health officials identified the virus in two Aedes vexans mosquitoes – a native British species – in wetlands near the River Idle, near the village of Gamston in Nottinghamshire. The samples were taken in 2023 and represent the first confirmed case of the virus in mosquitoes in Britain.
Symptoms and life-threatening
About one in five people infected with West Nile virus develop symptoms such as fever, headache, and a blotchy rash that appears on the torso, head, neck, fingers, and toes. These symptoms can last from a few days to a few weeks.
In less than one percent of cases, the disease can progress to a severe form called West Nile neuroinvasive disease (WNND), where the virus infects the brain, causing encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), seizures, disorientation, paralysis and coma.
Of patients with WNND, about 3–15% die, usually as a result of failure of vital respiratory functions.
At greatest risk are young children, adults over 50 years of age, and people with weak immune systems.
The shocking case of an American athlete
One of the most severe cases is that of Fabio Caruso, a former professional wrestling champion in the United States. He was bitten by a mosquito carrying the virus in 2023 while he was recovering from a kidney transplant and had a weakened immune system.
His condition quickly deteriorated – he was paralyzed from the torso down, suffered respiratory failure and ended up on a ventilator to survive. For more than two months he suffered from high fever and memory loss. It was not until July that he was allowed to return home to his wife and daughter.
What can you do to protect yourself?
Authorities advise that:
Use anti-mosquito spray.
Wear long-sleeved clothing and pants during the evenings and early mornings — when mosquitoes are most active.
Eliminate standing water around the house, as mosquitoes breed there.
Climate, an important factor
Dr. Arran Folly, a virologist at the government's Animal and Plant Health Agency, said the arrival of the virus in Britain is another indicator of the impact of climate change, which is opening the way for new diseases to emerge in cooler areas.
West Nile virus was first identified in Uganda in 1937. It first appeared in the US in 1999 and now causes about 2,000 cases per year, with about 120 deaths.
Continued surveillance and public awareness are essential to limit future risk.. /GazetaExpress/
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