Warning over mosquito virus

In the last few weeks two travellers returned home from the Portuguese Algarve suffering flu-like symptoms after being bitten by mosquitoes.

Although it is understood they did not need hospital treatment, it is thought the pair had contracted the deadly bug. Their present condition is not known.

West Nile Virus is passed by the insects and while 80 per cent of those infected have no lasting symptoms, the virus can kill.

Less than one per cent of those infected suffer more serious infections, such as encephalitis, or swelling of the brain, and meningitis. In the last few years dozens of people in the United States have died from the disease.

While uncommon around British and Irish shores the disease affects many in the Mediterranean and in the tropics.

The Health Protection Agency in England called on travellers to guard against the killer disease.

"People should take precautions, wear loose-fitting lightweight clothing that covers the skin as much as possible," a spokeswoman for the HPA said.

"Mosquitoes like dusk and dawn so avoid early morning and evenings where people are going to be more exposed."

Deadly virus traces found in UK birds

The potentially-fatal West Nile Virus was in more than half the birds tested by scientists at the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology in Oxford.

The virus is mosquito-borne and researchers warned it may spread to humans where it could cause inflammation of the brain.

There have been no cases of the virus in the UK but it killed more than 270 people in the United States last year.

Scientists said that, although there was no immediate danger to people in the UK, changes in the climate were increasing the risk.

Researchers tested birds mainly in Cambridgeshire, but also in Dorset and South Wales.

More than 20 species were found to carry antibodies to the virus which indicated they had become infected and succeeded in fighting it off.

The species found to be healthy, but carrying the antibodies, included ducks, magpies, swallows, turkeys, chickens and crows.

Migrating birds were said to have brought the virus into the country.

The research comes after the chief medical officer for England, Sir Liam Donaldson, announced increased surveillance for the virus in the UK at the beginning of July. Sir Liam said at the time that the risk to humans was low but doctors and medical staff should be vigilant for symptoms.

Thanks to the World Health Organisation
for much of this information.