By Soniya:
Usutu virus (USUV), a mosquito-borne flavivirus, has been detected in Scotland for the first time after being confirmed in blackbirds on the Isle of Arran. The virus, which primarily infects wild birds and is transmitted by mosquitoes, was identified through the United Kingdom’s avian disease surveillance system following reports of sick and dead blackbirds showing neurological symptoms.
Laboratory testing confirmed the presence of Usutu virus RNA, while genetic analysis linked the Scottish cases to the Africa 3.2 lineage already circulating in parts of the UK. The virus has previously caused declines in blackbird populations across several European countries and has been present in southeast England for several years.
Although Usutu virus can occasionally infect humans, the public health risk remains very low, and no human cases have been reported in the United Kingdom. The detection underscores the importance of wildlife surveillance, mosquito monitoring, and early disease detection systems in tracking emerging infectious diseases and protecting biodiversity.
