Vector-borne diseases transmitted by mosquitoes and ticks are an emerging public health concern in England. Read how councils across England are playing a critical role in the national response working with partners.
Have you had a mosquito bite this summer? Maybe while gardening, walking the dog, or enjoying a picnic in the park? You’re not alone and it’s not just an itchy nuisance anymore. Across England, more people are noticing bites from insects we used to associate with holidays abroad. That’s because the environment is changing, and with it, the risks to our health. Diseases carried by mosquitoes, ticks, and other tiny creatures known as vector-borne diseases are becoming more common, and local councils are on the front line of the response.
Until recently, most of us didn’t think twice about mosquitoes or ticks unless we were heading overseas. But warmer, wetter summers and milder winters are creating the perfect conditions for these insects to thrive right here at home. In 2023, West Nile virus was detected in mosquitoes for the first time. The virus was found in mosquitoes near the River Idle in Nottinghamshire. Meanwhile, ticks which can spread Lyme disease and tick-borne encephalitis are now active for longer periods and in more places. The UK now records over 20 tick species, and their range is expanding every year. Tick activity is starting earlier in the year, and the UKHSA receives thousands of tick samples annually from the public, GPs, vets, and wildlife organisations, especially during the peak season from April to June.
The numbers tell a clear story. Cases of imported malaria in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland rose to over 2,000 in 2023 the highest in two decades. That’s a sharp increase from 1,369 cases in 2022, driven by post-pandemic travel and global resurgence of the disease. And it’s not just malaria. The kind of mosquito that can carry dengue and Zika has already been spotted in southern England. In Europe, Aedes albopictus the mosquito that transmits dengue and chikungunya is now established in two-thirds of French departments, including Paris, where locally acquired cases have already been reported.
UKHSA now operates mosquito traps at high-risk sites like motorway service stations and ports to monitor for invasive species arriving via vehicles or imported goods. A mosquito capable of transmitting West Nile virus, has been spreading in the UK since its first detection 15 years ago and is increasingly found in flood-prone areas.
Councils are working to act early and protect communities. Worcestershire County Council, for example has worked with schools and outdoor education centres to promote tick awareness among children and staff, especially during spring and summer months. In coastal areas, councils have supported UKHSA’s mosquito surveillance by facilitating access to wetlands and floodplains for trapping and testing. These efforts are helping to build a clearer picture of where risks are emerging and how they can be managed locally.
Councils can make a real difference by joining national surveillance efforts to track where mosquitoes and ticks are showing up, educating the public with simple messages like checking for ticks after walks or emptying standing water in gardens, and including vector risks in climate adaptation and emergency planning. Working together with health services, schools, and community groups helps build resilience and keep people safe. This isn’t about panic, it’s about preparedness.
Vector-borne diseases are a growing reality, and councils have the tools to respond, especially with support from national agencies like UKHSA. Let’s make sure our communities are informed, our environments are managed, and our health systems are ready.