UK launches blood donor monitoring to detect tropical infections linked to climate change

Health experts in the UK have launched a new monitoring system for blood donations to detect tropical infections linked to climate change. The initiative aims to identify viruses like tick-borne encephalitis, West Nile, and Usutu viruses in blood donors. Currently, no human cases of Usutu or West Nile viruses have been reported in the UK, but Usutu has been found in birds, and mosquitoes capable of spreading West Nile have been detected. The risk from these viruses is considered very low, but climate change may increase their spread. The new program will analyze 5,000 blood samples over the coming months, linking results with donors' travel and vaccination histories. This effort aims to enhance surveillance and provide early warnings of potential infections in the UK.