Mosquitoes carrying potentially deadly diseases, such as dengue fever and West Nile virus, could become widespread across the UK in the next few decades, experts have said.
Writing in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal, scientists claim warmer temperatures and more rainfall - both outcomes of climate change - could provide ideal conditions in the UK for the unwelcome visitors, particularly southern England.
The UK climate is already said to be suitable for mosquitoes carrying West Nile Virus, an infection that causes a flu-like illness which on rare occasions can prove fatal.
No human cases have come to light so far, but recently a species of Culex mosquito known to be the main carrier of West Nile Virus in Europe was discovered in Kent.
A bigger threat is the Asian tiger mosquito which spreads dengue fever and chikungunya. Both cause serious illnesses, which especially in the case of dengue fever can be fatal.
Climate change models show that just a 2C rise in temperature could extend the mosquito's activity season by one month and geographical spread by up to 30% by 2030, the scientists said.
Professor Steve Leach, from the emergency responses department at Public Health England, said: "We are not suggesting that climate change is the only or the main factor driving the increase in vector-borne diseases in the UK and Europe, but that it is one of many factors including socio-economic development, urbanisation, widespread land-use change, migration, and globalisation that should be considered.
"Lessons from the outbreaks of West Nile virus in North America and chikungunya in the Caribbean emphasise the need to assess future vector-borne disease risks and prepare contingencies for future outbreaks."
In the past decade insect-borne infections have spread into new territories across Europe. Examples include malaria in Greece, West Nile Virus in eastern Europe, and chikungunya in Italy and France.
The climate change simulations predict suitable temperatures for one month per year of chikungunya virus transmission in London by 2041, and up to three months in southeast England by 2071.
Co-author Dr Jolyon Medlock, also from Public Health England, said: "Given the on-going spread of invasive mosquitoes across Europe, with accompanying outbreaks of dengue and chikungunya virus, Public Health England has been conducting surveillance at seaports, airports, and some motorway service stations.
"Although no non-native invasive mosquitoes have been detected in the UK so far, a better system to monitor imported used tyres, in which disease-carrying mosquitoes lay their eggs, needs planning."
Despite the risk from malaria being considered low, some climate models predicted the possibility of localised infections in the UK as early as 2030.
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Mosquitoes Heading For Warmer UK - Experts
Dengan url
http://kotasepisunyi.blogspot.com/2015/03/mosquitoes-heading-for-warmer-uk-experts.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Mosquitoes Heading For Warmer UK - Experts
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
Mosquitoes Heading For Warmer UK - Experts
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar