Usutu Virus Detected in Wild Birds in Scotland for First Time
Usutu virus was identified in two Eurasian Blackbirds found dead on Scotland's Isle of Arran in summer 2025, marking the first detection of the virus in wild Scottish birds. The virus strain belongs to the Africa 3.2 lineage and is closely related to previously detected UK cases, suggesting geographic expansion of an existing outbreak rather than a new introduction. The finding is significant because it demonstrates the virus's continued spread across the UK and highlights the presence of mosquito vectors capable of transmitting the pathogen in Scotland.
In summer 2025, deaths of several Eurasian Blackbirds were reported on the Isle of Arran in Scotland. Post-mortem examinations initially yielded no diagnosis, but subsequent testing for Orthoflavivirus and avian paramyxovirus led to the detection of Usutu virus RNA in two of the birds using reverse transcription-PCR. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the virus belongs to the Africa 3.2 lineage and clusters closely with existing UK detections, indicating this represents geographic expansion of the virus within the UK rather than a new introduction from elsewhere. Surveillance efforts following the initial detections confirmed the presence of several potential mosquito vector species in the area, suggesting conditions exist for continued virus transmission.
What different sources said
- bioRxivCenter
First Usutu virus detections in wild birds in Scotland, 2025
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