UKHSA Steps Up Efforts to Protect the UK from Vector-Borne Diseases
Vector-borne diseases, which are transmitted to humans by organisms such as mosquitoes and ticks, account for more than 17% of all infectious diseases globally, causing over 700,000 deaths annually. According to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), these diseases include malaria, West Nile virus, dengue, and yellow fever. The agency’s medical entomology teams play a vital role in monitoring and assessing new species and diseases that could threaten public health.
The UKHSA has reported that the risk from vector-borne diseases in the UK is increasing due to global travel and trade, changing land use, and climate change. In 2023, there were over 2,000 imported malaria cases in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, the highest in 20 years. This rise coincides with malaria’s global resurgence and increased post-pandemic travel. The UKHSA has also detected an increase in locally acquired dengue cases in France, Italy, and Spain, transmitted by the tiger mosquito, as well as an increase in imported travel-associated dengue cases in UK travellers.
The UKHSA’s vector surveillance systems have detected mosquito species in the UK on several occasions, leading to rapid action to minimise their chances of establishing. Climate-sensitive mosquito-borne viruses have started to emerge in the UK, including the detection of Usutu virus in 2020, affecting blackbirds. Recently, West Nile virus has been detected in UK mosquitoes for the first time. In July 2023, fragments of the virus were identified in Aedes vexans mosquitoes collected from wetlands in Nottinghamshire. While the risk to the public remains very low, this marks a significant development in vector surveillance, as reported by the UKHSA.
Mosquitoes and ticks with the potential to transmit disease can reach the UK through various means, including hitchhiking in vehicles, international trade, and attaching to pets, migratory birds, and returning holidaymakers. As the climate warms, non-native species increasingly find UK conditions suitable for survival, reproduction, and establishment. The UKHSA’s Medical Entomology and Zoonoses Ecology (MEZE) team assesses the emerging risks from vectors and advises the government on appropriate responses.
The UKHSA runs mosquito traps targeting invasive species at high-risk sites across England, in collaboration with local authorities. If imported goods or vehicles carrying mosquitoes reach the UK, they could establish a local population. The agency also conducts tick surveillance, providing critical insights into the evolving threat these disease vectors pose to public health across the UK. The information collected helps map seasonal patterns and geographical distribution, while the Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory (RIPL) tracks positive cases of diseases like Lyme disease and tick-borne encephalitis.
Climate change is significantly altering the UK’s vector-borne disease landscape, creating increasingly favourable conditions for disease-carrying organisms. The UKHSA’s surveillance systems provide essential early warning, allowing the agency to track vector populations, detect pathogens, and develop targeted interventions. To protect yourself from vector-borne diseases, the UKHSA recommends wearing long-sleeved clothing and trousers, using insect repellent containing DEET, and clearing standing water from gardens to reduce mosquito breeding sites.
The UKHSA is working together with local authorities, healthcare professionals, and the public to strengthen its ability to detect and respond to vector-borne diseases before they become established in the UK. The agency encourages the public to report invasive mosquitoes and submit tick samples to its surveillance schemes. As the UKHSA notes, "our comprehensive surveillance systems give us early warning of potential threats. By collaborating with local authorities, healthcare professionals, and the public, we’re strengthening our ability to detect and respond to vector-borne diseases before they become established in the UK."
In conclusion, the UKHSA is taking a proactive approach to protecting the UK from vector-borne diseases. Through its surveillance systems, collaboration with local authorities and the public, and public education campaigns, the agency aims to reduce the risk of these diseases and protect public health. As stated by the UKHSA, "our ability to protect current and future generations depends on maintaining robust monitoring networks and implementing adaptive public health strategies that recognise the crucial connection between climate change and human health."
