The Health Protection Agency is starting its annual enhanced surveillance programme for possible human cases of West Nile virus infection. The scheme, which has been used for the last three years, operates during the summer, when there is West Nile virus activity in other countries.
Dr Dilys Morgan who coordinates the scheme for the Agency, said, “Our surveillance scheme involves looking for West Nile virus in blood and cerebrospinal fluid samples, taken from patients with encephalitis or viral meningitis with no known cause. This includes those who have recently returned from areas where there is West Nile Virus activity, and where mosquitoes which could potentially transmit the disease are most active. We are requesting that clinicians and laboratories refer these samples to HPA Porton Down, who will carry out laboratory investigations.