Key insights from James’ talk:
- Climate change is accelerating insect breeding, survival, and virus replication
- Mosquito-borne diseases are spreading into new geographies, including parts of Europe
- The UK already has mosquito species capable of carrying malaria, West Nile virus and Usutu virus
- Aedes albopictus (tiger mosquito), which spreads dengue, chikungunya and Zika, has been detected in the UK and modelling shows London could face endemic dengue by 2060
- Without action, most of England could be subject to Aedes mosquitoes by mid-century.
- Long-term sustainable mosquito surveillance and control programmes
- Investment in research, innovation and policy
- Citizen engagement and education, building on successful EU models
- Reforms in urban planning to reduce mosquito breeding habitats
- Strong collaboration between government, public health bodies, and communities.
To protect public health he recommends:
- Long-term sustainable mosquito surveillance and control programmes
- Investment in research, innovation and policy
- Citizen engagement and education, building on successful EU models
- Reforms in urban planning to reduce mosquito breeding habitats
- Strong collaboration between government, public health bodies, and communities.