Zika mosquitoes will come to the UK because of global warming – risking a ‘large epidemic’ of the incurable disease, MPs warn
- Department of Health warned mosquitoes carrying Zika due to global warning
- Chief scientific adviser says there is a threat of ‘a large epidemic’ of the disease
- He said by time mosquito which carries it arrives in UK there will be a a vaccine
Mosquitoes carrying Zika will come to the UK due to global warming, the Department of Health warned yesterday.
Chief scientific adviser Chris Whitty told MPs there is a threat of ‘a large epidemic’ of the currently incurable disease in Britain and elsewhere in northern Europe. However, he told the Commons environment committee that by the time the Aedes mosquito – which carries the virus – arrives here, there would likely be a vaccine against Zika.
Pregnant women infected with the disease can give birth to babies with abnormally small heads and brains – an often fatal defect. The majority of cases in the UK are in those who have travelled to the Caribbean or South America.
Mosquitoes carrying Zika will come to the UK due to global warming, the Department of Health warned yesterday. Pictured, a yellow-fever mosquito sucking blood, which is a known carrier of the Zika virus
Chief scientific adviser Chris Whitty (pictured) told MPs there is a threat of ‘a large epidemic’ of the currently incurable disease in Britain and elsewhere in northern Europe.
Mr Whitty admitted much of the evidence presented to the committee was ‘unremittingly gloomy’, but added ‘it was simply not true’ that nothing can be done, saying: ‘There are huge scientific answers to very many of the problems we face.’