Usutu Virus Detected in Scotland for First Time

Exam-focused facts from the 17 June 2026 current affairs briefing.

Key facts

The African-origin Usutu virus was identified in blackbirds in Scotland for the first time in April.
The primary vector for the Usutu virus is the brown-grey Culex pipiens mosquito, which is most active in warm conditions around 25C.
The virus was first identified in 1959 and is named after a river in southern Africa.
Usutu virus affects various bird species, including blackbirds, owls, raptors, and several passerines.
The virus belongs to the same family as Dengue, yellow fever, and the West Nile virus, which was first detected in mosquitoes in Britain in May 2025.