Experts probe 'shock' arrival of mosquito virus in Scotland
Scientists have confirmed the presence of the Usutu virus in Scottish blackbirds, marking the first time the mosquito-borne disease has reached such northern latitudes. Experts believe climate change is creating warmer conditions that allow the virus-carrying Culex pipiens mosquitoes to thrive in regions previously considered too cold.
Why it matters
This discovery highlights the accelerating impact of climate change on the geographic spread of infectious diseases, posing new public health risks in previously unaffected regions.
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