Deadly virus has reached the United Kingdom

British scientists have identified the West Nile virus in the mosquito population living in the country for the first time. This was reported by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), citing data from regular monitoring.

The virus, first detected in Uganda in 1937, is transmitted to humans through bites from mosquitoes of the genus Culex, with birds being the main carriers of the infection. It is believed that the virus was brought into the country by migratory birds.

Most infected people (about 80%) do not experience symptoms. In other cases, fever, headache, fatigue, and muscle pain are possible. In rare cases, the disease can cause severe neurological complications.

The genetic material of the virus was found in mosquito samples collected from marshes in southeastern England using a PCR test. However, specialists emphasize that the presence of viral RNA does not necessarily indicate its activity and ability to infect.

Since the virus began spreading in the US in 1999, about 60 thousand cases of infection have been registered, of which 3 thousand were fatal. In 2024, 19 European countries reported cases of infection - a total of 1436 cases.