West Nile Virus - UK Contingency Plan

On May 31st 2004 the Chief Medical Officer published a contingency plan to prevent and control West Nile virus disease. Although the risk for infection in the United Kingdom (UK) remains low, there is a need to prepare for the possibility of a UK-acquired case. The contingency plan defines roles and responsibilities of parties involved in tackling the disease in the event of a UK-acquired case of WNV infection, and presents a strategy for limiting the impact of the virus.

The plan sets out measures to enhance surveillance, to alert clinicians, and to control mosquito populations. In many of these areas, action has already been taken, while in others it will be initiated only if and when a diagnosis of WNV infection is made. In addition to the human surveillance undertaken by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), surveillance of birds, mosquitoes, and horses has been undertaken by other agencies. Key actions for the public to protect themselves and minimise the risk of infection are included in the contingency plan.

Given its mode of transmission, any effort to tackle WNV would require the close liaison of veterinary and health services at the local, regional, and national level. The contingency plan maps out how such co-operation would be achieved in practice through 'Public Health Action in Partnership', the formation of an inter-disciplinary incident control team to take the lead locally, and the creation of a central Government team drawn from the Department of Health, the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and the HPA to provide policy advice nationally.

The document broadly covers:

Laboratory diagnosis
Patient care and protection of healthcare individuals
Public health action
Surveillance
Environmental control

It is intended for all those who would have a role in protecting public health if an outbreak were to occur, including the HPA, Primary Care Trusts, Strategic Health Authorities, local authorities, and other agencies.

Department of Health. West Nile virus: A contingency plan to protect the public's health. Available at: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_4083548 

Last reviewed: 15 March 2010