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West Nile virus and the threat to the UK
P D Crook1, N S Crowcroft, D W G Brown
1PHLS Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ.
Communicable Disease and Public Health
|August 9, 2002
Summary
West Nile virus (WNV) is expanding globally, posing risks of severe neurological illness like encephalitis. While WNV is not yet confirmed in UK birds or animals, potential vectors and hosts exist, necessitating clinical vigilance.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- West Nile virus (WNV), an RNA virus in the Flaviviridae family, is exhibiting increased geographical spread and outbreak frequency globally.
- Primary hosts include birds, with mosquitoes (genus Culex) as principal vectors, leading to potential human infections like encephalitis and aseptic meningitis, particularly in the elderly.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the potential risk and current understanding of West Nile virus (WNV) transmission in the United Kingdom.
- To inform clinicians about WNV as a differential diagnosis, especially for severe neurological conditions in specific patient demographics.
Main Methods:
- Review of WNV geographical expansion, host-vector dynamics, and clinical manifestations.
- Analysis of WNV presence in North America and Eurasia, and its potential introduction to the UK via migratory birds.
- Evaluation of existing surveillance and control measures for WNV.
Main Results:
- WNV has expanded into North America and caused more severe outbreaks in Eurasia.
- No WNV cases reported in UK animals or birds, but this may reflect diagnostic limitations.
- Potential WNV hosts and vectors are present in the UK, but mosquito populations are low, suggesting a currently low transmission risk.
Conclusions:
- The risk of WNV transmission in the UK is considered low due to low mosquito density, but insufficient ecological data hinders accurate risk assessment.
- Clinicians should consider WNV in patients over 50 presenting with viral encephalitis or aseptic meningitis during summer months.
- Further research on WNV ecology and UK mosquito populations is needed for precise risk determination.