This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/zika-may-spread-to-britain-after-experts-find-virus-carrying-mosquitos-a6838436.html

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Zika virus: Disease may spread to Britain after experts find virus-carrying mosquitoes in Kent and Sussex Zika has 'explosive pandemic potential', experts warn, amid fears it may have spread to common mosquito
(about 2 hours later)
The Zika virus may have spread to Britain, after experts claim to have found mosquitoes that can carry the disease in the UK.  Experts say the Zika virus has the potential to become an "explosive pandemic" amid fears it may have already crossed to the common mosquito – thereby increasing its chances of being spreading around the world.
The Aedes Aegypti mosquito has been seen in the British countryside on the Kent coast and in West Sussex, according to Howard Carter, one of the country’s leading bite experts, the Mail Online reports. Brazilian experts at Oswaldo Cruz Foundation believe the virus, which was originally thought to be confined to the Aedes Aegypti mosquito in the tropics, may have already crossed over to the culex mosquito, which is 20 times more common in Brazil and also present in parts of Africa and Asia.
This type of mosquito, which carries diseases including Dengue fever and Yellow fever, can also carry Zika - linked to a microcephaly epidemic in Brazil and the Americas, causing babies to be born with abnormally small heads with a circumference of less than 31.5 or 32 cm. The Zika virus has been linked to the epidemic of microcephaly in Brazil and the Americas, which causes babies to be born with small heads with a circumference of less than 31.5-32 cm at birth.
Mr Carter says the mosquitoes are being transported into Britain in the tread of car tyres, where the females lay their eggs in trapped stagnant water. Constancia Ayres, research co-ordinator said: "The interaction of the mosquito with the virus may explain the epidemiological profile of disease transmission," reported the Telegraph.
He added the mosquitoes are not in the UK in “any great number”, but thinks it is “only a matter of time before that becomes the case”, and suggested global warming is creating a "warmer and more attractive climate" in the UK. Ms Ayres added that if culex mosquitoes do carry the virus, "it means much more combined efforts from a lot of other countries are going to be needed to combat the virus".
Three British people have already contracted the disease after travelling to South and Central America, Public Health England confirmed on Saturday.  US scientists are urging the World Health Organisation (WHO) to learn from the Ebola outbreak and take urgent action on combatting the virus, which they say has "explosive pandemic potential", and plan to organise an emergency committee of disease experts the BBC reported. 
US scientists are urging the World Health Organisation (WHO) to learn from the Ebola outbreak and take urgent on combatting the virus action now, which they say has “explosive pandemic potential”, the BBC reported.  Authorities have reportedly put troops on the street and deployed health workers in a bid to combat the virus spreading further.
Dilma Roussef, Brazil’s president said at a summit in Ecuador that sharing knowledge between the Latin American countries is the best way to combat the epidemic.  Dilma Roussef, Brazil’s president said at a summit in Ecuador that sharing knowledge between Latin American countries is the best way to combat the epidemic. 
Already, thousands of people have been affected by the disease, which has spread across 20 countries since late 2015. Already, thousands of people have been affected by the disease, which has spread across 20 countries since late 2015. 
Brazil is the worst hit country, with around a million people thought to be infected. People travelling to the Americas are warned to cover up to protect from bites and use a repellent with PMD in it, which is effective against the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, according to Mr Carter.  There are fears Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes have been transported to Britain in the tread of tyres, where females lay their eggs in trapped water, following several sightings.
Women have been urged by the El Salvador government not to get pregnant for as long as two years, in a bid to avoid the birth defects associated with the virus, while those who are already pregnant should stay covered outdoors to reduce the risk of bites. Howard Carter, one of the country’s leading bite experts, has seen the mosquitoes, which can carry the virus, on the Kent coast and in West Sussex. 
The Colombian government has also warned women that they should delay becoming pregnant for six to eight months, until the disease is under control.  He added the mosquitoes are not in the UK in "any great number", but thinks it is "only a matter of time before that becomes the case", suggesting global warming is creating a warmer and more attractive climate in Britain, reports the Mail Online. 
Symptoms include flu-like aches, joint pain, rashes, itching, and inflammation of the eyes, headaches but not everyone displays signs of the disease, according to UK government guidance on the virus. Brazil has been worst hit by the virus, with around a million people thought to be infected. People travelling to the Americas are warned to cover up to protect from bites and use a repellent with PMD in it, which is effective against the Aedes Aegypti mosquito.
Three British people have already contracted the disease after travelling to South and Central America, which was confirmed by Public Health England on Saturday. 
Women in Latin America have been urged by the El Salvador government not to get pregnant for as long as two years, in a bid to avoid the birth defects associated with the virus.
While those who are already pregnant should stay covered outdoors to reduce the risk of bites.
Symptoms include flu-like aches, joint pain, rashes, itching, and inflammation of the eyes, headaches but not everyone has symptoms, according to government guidance on the virus.
It was first found in Africa in the 1940s, but was not a threat to humans. It was first found in Africa in the 1940s, but was not a threat to humans. 
There is currently no vaccine for the virus, but scientists at the University of Texas Medical Branch have visited Brazil to carry out research in order to find one. There is currently no vaccine for the virus, but scientists at the University of Texas Medical Branch have visited Brazil to carry out research in order to find one. 
The best way to prevent the virus spreading is to clear stagnant water, where the mosquitoes lay eggs, and to protect against bites. The best way to prevent the virus spreading is to clear stagnant water, where the mosquitos lay eggs and to protect against bites.