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31/05/2004
Contingency plan for deadly mosquito-borne virus published
A contingency plan to protect the UK against the mosquito-borne disease West Nile Virus has been published by the Chief Medical Officer today.
Although the risk of acquiring West Nile Virus infection in the UK has been assessed as low, climate change and long-haul travel could contrive to see the disease spread to Britain. The US suffered a serious outbreak of the virus two years ago.
Sir Liam Donaldson made a commitment in his annual report last year to ensure that a strategy is in place in the event of a UK-acquired case.
The contingency plan defines the roles and responsibilities of the parties who would be involved in tackling the disease, setting out the strategy for those who might be called upon to limit the impact of the virus.
West Nile Virus is a virus transmitted by mosquitos– the natural host for the virus is birds but other animals, including humans may become infected. In the UK, there are species of mosquito that could act as carriers for the virus. While their populations are considered to be relatively small and studies looking at their behaviour do not support transmission of the virus in the UK, the virus is no longer restricted to 'the Old World', Sir Liam said.
"West Nile Virus no longer respects the geographical boundaries that once restricted it to the Old World. In 1999 this disease arrived in New York and rapidly spread through the United States of America killing 284 in 2002," he said.
"This illustrated that the virus could swiftly become endemic in new territories with the most serious consequences for human health.
"The chances of West Nile Virus arriving in the UK are low. It would need a number of factors to conspire to increase the risk. Factors such as climate change, long-haul travel and changes in land-use can facilitate the spread of infectious diseases in unpredictable directions. However, the possibility cannot be ruled out and we have therefore produced this plan."
(gmcg)
Although the risk of acquiring West Nile Virus infection in the UK has been assessed as low, climate change and long-haul travel could contrive to see the disease spread to Britain. The US suffered a serious outbreak of the virus two years ago.
Sir Liam Donaldson made a commitment in his annual report last year to ensure that a strategy is in place in the event of a UK-acquired case.
The contingency plan defines the roles and responsibilities of the parties who would be involved in tackling the disease, setting out the strategy for those who might be called upon to limit the impact of the virus.
West Nile Virus is a virus transmitted by mosquitos– the natural host for the virus is birds but other animals, including humans may become infected. In the UK, there are species of mosquito that could act as carriers for the virus. While their populations are considered to be relatively small and studies looking at their behaviour do not support transmission of the virus in the UK, the virus is no longer restricted to 'the Old World', Sir Liam said.
"West Nile Virus no longer respects the geographical boundaries that once restricted it to the Old World. In 1999 this disease arrived in New York and rapidly spread through the United States of America killing 284 in 2002," he said.
"This illustrated that the virus could swiftly become endemic in new territories with the most serious consequences for human health.
"The chances of West Nile Virus arriving in the UK are low. It would need a number of factors to conspire to increase the risk. Factors such as climate change, long-haul travel and changes in land-use can facilitate the spread of infectious diseases in unpredictable directions. However, the possibility cannot be ruled out and we have therefore produced this plan."
(gmcg)
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