This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj3x6v05ly6o
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Mosquito-borne killer disease threatens blackbirds | Mosquito-borne killer disease threatens blackbirds |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| The blackbird is one of the UK's most common and familiar birds, known for its cheerful song | The blackbird is one of the UK's most common and familiar birds, known for its cheerful song |
| A mosquito-borne disease freshly arrived in Britain has spread large distances, with scientists racing to understand the risks to wild birds. | A mosquito-borne disease freshly arrived in Britain has spread large distances, with scientists racing to understand the risks to wild birds. |
| Infected insects can spread the deadly Usutu virus to blackbirds, raising fears for the famous songsters. | Infected insects can spread the deadly Usutu virus to blackbirds, raising fears for the famous songsters. |
| New data shows Usutu has spread across much of southern England in five years, and has been linked to declines in some blackbird populations. | New data shows Usutu has spread across much of southern England in five years, and has been linked to declines in some blackbird populations. |
| Scientists are monitoring its spread amid warnings that mosquitoes and the diseases they carry may expand their range under climate change. | Scientists are monitoring its spread amid warnings that mosquitoes and the diseases they carry may expand their range under climate change. |
| "We've seen that the virus has spread further than we thought it might do, and it's persisted," Dr Arran Folly of the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) told the BBC. | "We've seen that the virus has spread further than we thought it might do, and it's persisted," Dr Arran Folly of the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) told the BBC. |
| Culex pipiens, the common house mosquito, has been found to carry and transmit the Usutu virus | Culex pipiens, the common house mosquito, has been found to carry and transmit the Usutu virus |
| Scientists at the APHA in Weybridge, Surrey, have been tracking mosquito-borne diseases in wild birds for decades, amid warnings that climate change is turning Europe into a potential breeding ground for the insects. | Scientists at the APHA in Weybridge, Surrey, have been tracking mosquito-borne diseases in wild birds for decades, amid warnings that climate change is turning Europe into a potential breeding ground for the insects. |
| Longer summers, hotter temperatures and heavy rainfall are creating conditions for the nuisance insects to move into areas that were previously inhospitable to them. | Longer summers, hotter temperatures and heavy rainfall are creating conditions for the nuisance insects to move into areas that were previously inhospitable to them. |
| Until 2020, all results came back clear. Then, after the summer heatwave of that year, Usutu was detected in several blackbirds in Greater London. | Until 2020, all results came back clear. Then, after the summer heatwave of that year, Usutu was detected in several blackbirds in Greater London. |
| "Blackbirds specifically are quite susceptible to the virus and since 2020 we've found a decline in blackbirds of approximately 40% in Greater London," said Dr Folly. | "Blackbirds specifically are quite susceptible to the virus and since 2020 we've found a decline in blackbirds of approximately 40% in Greater London," said Dr Folly. |
| "It gives an indication that in the future we might get other viruses that are transmitted by mosquitoes emerging in the UK." | "It gives an indication that in the future we might get other viruses that are transmitted by mosquitoes emerging in the UK." |
| Diseases such as Usutu are a growing threat to wild birds, amid a host of other pressures, including habitat loss, climate change and pesticide use. | Diseases such as Usutu are a growing threat to wild birds, amid a host of other pressures, including habitat loss, climate change and pesticide use. |
| What is Usutu? | What is Usutu? |
| Usutu virus was first detected more than half a century ago around southern Africa's Usutu River | Usutu virus was first detected more than half a century ago around southern Africa's Usutu River |
| It has since spread around the world, reaching Europe three decades ago, and was picked up for the first time in the UK in 2020 | It has since spread around the world, reaching Europe three decades ago, and was picked up for the first time in the UK in 2020 |
| Blackbirds are particularly susceptible to the virus, which can also infect horses and, from time to time, humans. | Blackbirds are particularly susceptible to the virus, which can also infect horses and, from time to time, humans. |
| The virus is regarded as generally of low risk to people, and there have been no human cases reported in the UK to date. | The virus is regarded as generally of low risk to people, and there have been no human cases reported in the UK to date. |
| The latest data shows that Usutu has spread further than the scientists expected. | The latest data shows that Usutu has spread further than the scientists expected. |
| It has now been detected in wild birds across much of southern England, at least as far west as Dorset and as far north as Cambridgeshire. | It has now been detected in wild birds across much of southern England, at least as far west as Dorset and as far north as Cambridgeshire. |
| How big a risk Usutu poses to wild birds is uncertain. The virus has been linked to mass die-offs of blackbirds elsewhere in Europe, though that doesn't seem to be the case in Britain. | How big a risk Usutu poses to wild birds is uncertain. The virus has been linked to mass die-offs of blackbirds elsewhere in Europe, though that doesn't seem to be the case in Britain. |
| And the blackbird remains one of the commonest garden birds with numbers holding steady in many parts of the country, especially in rural areas, and in the north. | And the blackbird remains one of the commonest garden birds with numbers holding steady in many parts of the country, especially in rural areas, and in the north. |
| In May, blackbirds are nesting and rearing young, with fledglings eventually leaving the nest | In May, blackbirds are nesting and rearing young, with fledglings eventually leaving the nest |
| To untangle the puzzle – and gather more data on blackbird numbers – the scientists have joined forces with the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO). | To untangle the puzzle – and gather more data on blackbird numbers – the scientists have joined forces with the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO). |
| They are calling for volunteers to count blackbirds in their gardens over the summer months to find out more about the comings and goings of the birds. | They are calling for volunteers to count blackbirds in their gardens over the summer months to find out more about the comings and goings of the birds. |
| Around now blackbirds are breeding and raising their young, frequently seen hopping along the ground and singing from the branches of trees on summer evenings. | Around now blackbirds are breeding and raising their young, frequently seen hopping along the ground and singing from the branches of trees on summer evenings. |
| Lucy Love in her garden within metres of the sea near Selsey, Sussex | Lucy Love in her garden within metres of the sea near Selsey, Sussex |
| Lucy Love, a garden birdwatch ambassador for the BTO, knows the blackbirds in her gardens by sight and has grown fond of them. | Lucy Love, a garden birdwatch ambassador for the BTO, knows the blackbirds in her gardens by sight and has grown fond of them. |
| "They're beautiful birds – intelligent, friendly and they have the most beautiful song with a lovely melodic tone to it," she explained. | "They're beautiful birds – intelligent, friendly and they have the most beautiful song with a lovely melodic tone to it," she explained. |
| "And we cannot lose them – they're a vital part of our ecosystem." | "And we cannot lose them – they're a vital part of our ecosystem." |
| Get our flagship newsletter with all the headlines you need to start the day. Sign up here. |