Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions she has had with the UK Health Security Agency on the prevalence of mosquito-transmitted diseases in the UK.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Department meet regularly to discuss the UKHSA’s responsibilities, including on mosquito-transmitted diseases.

UKHSA and the Animal and Plant Health Agency routinely test British mosquitoes. UKHSA undertakes routine surveillance for mosquito-transmitted diseases and have tested samples from symptomatic people in the United Kingdom for evidence of likely threats since 2003. No indigenous cases have been seen although we regularly diagnose diseases in travellers. Any significant issues are included in UKHSA’s routine regular surveillance reports that are shared with the Department and across Government.