For the first time, a deadly mosquito-borne virus known to cause severe neurological symptoms—including muscle paralysis and "body freezing" effects—has been detected in mosquitoes within the UK. Health authorities have identified the virus as a strain of West Nile Virus (WNV) or a similar encephalitic virus, which has previously been found in hotter regions like southern Europe, Africa, and North America.
Symptoms in severe cases include high fever, seizures, confusion, and paralysis—particularly in older adults or immunocompromised individuals. While most infected people remain asymptomatic, about 1 in 150 may develop serious complications. With rising temperatures and altered ecosystems linked to climate change, vector-borne diseases are expanding their reach—even into regions once considered low-risk.
Experts are urging the public to take precautions like using insect repellent, wearing long sleeves outdoors, and eliminating standing water where mosquitoes breed.
Stay Safe Tips:
- Apply EPA-approved mosquito repellent.
- Install screens on windows and doors.
- Empty stagnant water from containers weekly.
#UKHealthAlert #MosquitoWarning #VirusOutbreak #ClimateChangeImpact #WestNileVirus #PublicHealthFor the first time, a deadly mosquito-borne virus known to cause severe neurological symptoms—including muscle paralysis and "body freezing" effects—has been detected in mosquitoes within the UK. Health authorities have identified the virus as a strain of West Nile Virus (WNV) or a similar encephalitic virus, which has previously been found in hotter regions like southern Europe, Africa, and North America.
Symptoms in severe cases include high fever, seizures, confusion, and paralysis—particularly in older adults or immunocompromised individuals. While most infected people remain asymptomatic, about 1 in 150 may develop serious complications. With rising temperatures and altered ecosystems linked to climate change, vector-borne diseases are expanding their reach—even into regions once considered low-risk.
Experts are urging the public to take precautions like using insect repellent, wearing long sleeves outdoors, and eliminating standing water where mosquitoes breed.
🚨 Stay Safe Tips:
- Apply EPA-approved mosquito repellent.
- Install screens on windows and doors.
- Empty stagnant water from containers weekly.
#UKHealthAlert #MosquitoWarning #VirusOutbreak #ClimateChangeImpact #WestNileVirus #PublicHealth
