Climate change will make outbreaks of West Nile virus more likely in the UK within the next 20-30 years, scientists say.
Climate change will make outbreaks of West Nile virus more likely in the UK within the next 20-30 years, scientists say.
West Nile virus is spread by mosquitoes and has no vaccine. Most people have no symptoms, but it can cause serious neurological disease.
Scientists from the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland (BioSS) and the University of Glasgow developed a new model to determine the risk of a West Nile virus outbreak in the UK. They found the risk is low for the next two to three decades, but will increase as temperatures rise.
Dr Steven White, a theoretical ecologist at UKCEH, said: “Knowing if or when a new disease will affect us is vitally important.
Read more at UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
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