Following a scary looking Gov.uk report from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), formerly UK Public Health Services, the Oxford Centre for Evidence Based Medicine (CEBM) have responded to provide some practical observations on the highly questionable value of the research conducted, and to try and put things back into some sensible perspective.
As part of a surveillance project, the UKHSA captured thousands of mosquitoes from the wetlands around the River Idle in Nottinghamshire. The insects were then tested for the presence of West Nile Virus genetic material using a PCR test. They found West Nile Virus genetic material in a percentage of the samples and say, "This is the first evidence of West Nile Virus detected in a mosquito in the UK".
Dr Jolyon Medlock, Head of Medical Entomology and Zoonoses Ecology at UKHSA, writes:
"Mosquitoes breed in a range of natural wetlands, but can also be common in gardens, breeding in container habitats like water butts and buckets. Reducing opportunities for some mosquito species to access these containers with lids, or turning them over, can reduce mosquitoes numbers around our homes".
From a more cautionary stance, Dr Medlock goes onto explain: "Mosquitoes in the UK are also commonly found in wet woodland areas and various aquatic habitats, including ponds, ditches, marshes, and even garden water butts or cisterns. To avoid being bitten by a mosquito when in these types of areas, wear long-sleeved clothing and trousers to cover your arms and legs, use insect repellent on your skin (ideally one that contains the ingredient DEET), close windows and doors whenever possible, or use blinds or screens". However, this is not exactly something that most people, especially fishermen don't already know.
As previously reported in Total Health - different species of mosquito can carry different diseases, (in addition to malaria). Disease types vary throughout the world and include dengue, Zika, chikungunya and yellow fever. So, globally mosquitoes pose an acknowledged threat.
So the obvious question is; should we be scared?
Well, yes, but probably not from any threat of West Nile Virus. The CEBM point out that UKHSA, "have been testing 32,000 mosquitoes using PCR". Consequently, they have found something, but the CEBM say, "we are not quite sure what they have found". The CEBM goes onto quote UKHSA, stating that the risk of infection is very low, however, point out that the UKHSA have failed to recognise that if you use a PCR test, "you will find anything you tell it to detect". The result of the PCR test in real terms is pretty meaningless and does not explain that a potentially dangerous infectious virus needs to be complete, viable and be present in sufficient quantities in order to be able to infect you. In other words, whatever they have found, it is hardly worth reporting.
7.5 million patients waiting for lab tests
By way of illustrating the the waste of resources into this 'research', and to make a point that is probably more pertinent for any patient waiting to get the lab tests they need, The CEBM state, "So, folks, while you cannot get an appointment or a test from your local primary care centre, and there are 7.5 million people in line, rest assured that mosquitoes have the right of way and are regularly tested and surveyed".
