Plague of mosquitos carrying deadly diseases is headed for Britain

Mosquitoes carrying serious diseases could become widespread across the UK in the next few decades as the climate warms, experts claim.

Biting insects that transmit "vector-borne" infections once confined to equatorial regions have already invaded parts of southern and eastern Europe.

Now a new study predicts it will not be long before the unwelcome visitors arrive in Britain, bringing with them tropical diseases such as dengue fever and chikungunya.

The UK climate is already said to be suitable for mosquitoes carrying West Nile Virus, an infection that causes a flu-like illness which on rare occasions can prove fatal.

No human cases have come to light so far. But recently a species of Culex mosquito known to be the main carrier of West Nile Virus in Europe was discovered in Kent.

A bigger threat is the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) which spreads dengue fever and chikungunya.

-msn