‘Matter of time’ before West Nile virus in humans seen in the UK, expert warns

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By Emma Wilkinson reporting from the UKHSA conference in Manchester

It is a “matter of time” before human transmission of West Nile virus is seen in the UK, an expert has warned.

Speaking at the UK Health Security Agency annual conference in Manchester, Dr Jolyon Medlock, the agency’s head of medical entomology and zoonoses ecology, noted there were 1,000 cases of West Nile virus in Europe last year – 49% higher than the 10-year average.

Already this year there have been 1300 West Nile infections on the continent, he added.

“We’re in the process of what could be one of the biggest West Nile outbreaks in Europe and that’s definitely driven by climate change.

“There have been 28 cases in the Netherlands, some in Belgium, it’s only a matter of time before this is hitting our shores,” he said.

With local transmission of dengue happening in France and Italy as well as Chikungunya, UK clinicians must be prepared for what’s coming, the session heard.