Warning to Brits as deadly paralysing tropical virus detected in UK for first time – and doctors race to contain spread
A TROPICAL virus that can leave victims paralysed has been detected in Britain for the first time, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said.
Health officials said they found traces of the West Nile virus, which is usually limited to Africa, the Middle East and South Asia in mozzies in Nottinghamshire.
The bug, which mostly spreads to people through critter bites, can cause severe, life-threatening illness in about 1 in 150 people who are infected, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
UKHSA bosses are now racing to contain any potential spread of the virus but insist the risk to the public is "very low" and that the virus "does not spread easily between people".
In the last 25 years, only seven cases have been brought into the UK by travellers - and none have caught it locally.
The virus mainly lives in birds and animals, but in rare cases, it jumps to humans.
People get infected through bites from Asian Tiger mosquitoes - easily recognised by their black-and-white stripes - which pick up the virus from birds.
Dr Meera Chand, from the UKHSA said: "While this is the first detection of West Nile Virus in mosquitoes in the UK so far, it is not unexpected as the virus is already widespread in Europe."
In 2024, 1436 locally acquired cases in people were reported across 19 EU countries, including Spain, Greece and Italy, resulting in 125 deaths.
During the same period in 2023, just 802 cases were reported.
Dr Meera added: "The risk to the general public is currently assessed as very low. Vector research of this kind is designed to give us early warning of potential threats so that we can enhance our disease surveillance and control activities and ensure patients receive appropriate testing."
According to the NHS, most people infected won’t even show symptoms and will recover without treatment.
But some develop flu-like symptoms: fever, body aches, headache, rash, and nausea.
More severe signs can include muscle weakness, eye pain, vision loss, numbness, neck stiffness, confusion, vomiting, diarrhoea, fatigue, and seizures.
People over 50 or with health conditions like cancer, diabetes, kidney disease, or high blood pressure are at higher risk of serious illness.
The illness can develop into West Nile neuroinvasive disease (WNND), which affects the nervous system.
This has a mortality rate of up to 17 per cent, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDPC).
There is no specific treatment for WNV, but doctors recommend rest, staying hydrated and taking over-the-counter pain relief.
However, in more serious cases, patients need to be admitted to hospital as the virus can lead to meningitis (inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord) and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns.
There is no vaccine for WNV, but it is not contagious.
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The best way to protect yourself when visiting high-risk areas is by using insect sprays, long clothing and mosquito nets.
Individuals have also been advised to remove any standing water near their home, as this can be a place where mosquitoes can breed.