6 hours agoShareSaveChristopher BlanchettSenior Weather PresenterJulie-Anne BarnesBBC Scotland NewsShareSaveIs malaria a risk?Mosquitoes don’t currently pose a health risk to humans in Scotland. The parasite needed to spread infectious disease like malaria is not present here.However, it was a different story 200 years ago when malaria was common in the UK.It was present in the east of Scotland in particular and spread by native mosquitoes.Today, climate change is likely to mean we could see more mosquitoes in Scotland, as our climate becomes warmer and wetter – perfect conditions to allow them to thrive.Culex pipiens, the common house mosquito, has been found to carry and transmit the Usutu virus, originally discovered in the 1950s in Africa and present in Europe for the past three decades.The virus is spread through the bite of an infected mosquito and has affected blackbird populations.The Mosquito Scotland project will continue to help track their population and scientists say it will help provide a crucial early warning system for potential risk, as the species respond to environmental change.Professor Ferguson and Dr Kirby want to hear more from the public in 2025, to help increase their knowledge and build a picture of the biodiversity benefits of mosquitoes and any potential risks. You can get involved in the project and submit your own sightings by visiting the Mosquito Scotland website. …
