Detection of Usutu virus infection in wild birds in the United Kingdom, 2020

In August 2020, as part of a long-term disease surveillance programme, Usutu virus was detected in five Eurasian blackbirds (Turdus merula) and one house sparrow (Passer domesticus) from Greater London, England. This was initially detected by reverse transcription-PCR and was confirmed by virus isolation and by immunohistochemical detection of flavivirus in tissues. Phylogenetic analysis identified Usutu virus African 3.2 lineage, which is prevalent in the Netherlands and Belgium, suggesting a potential incursion from mainland Europe.

Source: Eurosurveillance - October 15, 2020 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Arran J Folly, Becki Lawson, Fabian ZX Lean, Fiona McCracken, Simon Spiro, Shinto K John, Joseph P Heaver, Katharina Seilern-Moy, Nic Masters, Luis M Hern ández-Triana, L Paul Phipps, Alejandro Nuñez, Anthony R Fooks, Andrew A Cunningham, Nicholas Johns Source Type: research