Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 13 March 2025 to Question 38284, what assessment his Department has made of (a) the individual risk to UK residents of travelling to areas where mosquito-borne diseases are endemic and (b) the risk to UK public health of local transmission of those diseases.

United Kingdom residents travelling to areas with mosquito-borne diseases face risks that depend on their health, the reason and length of their trip, and the precautions they take, such as vaccinations and measures to prevent bites.

The National Travel Health Network and Centre advises UK travelers to stay safe and healthy while travelling. This includes information on mosquito-borne diseases, tips for avoiding mosquito bites, and specific advice for different destinations on their website, which is available at the following link:

https://travelhealthpro.org.uk

Travelers from the UK going to areas with mosquito-borne diseases should consult a healthcare professional, like a general practitioner or pharmacist, before their trip. Currently, there is no local transmission of these diseases in the UK, and the risk to the public is low.

The UK Health Security Agency’s (UKHSA) Health Effects of Climate Change report indicates that current temperatures in the UK are too low for vectors or transmission cycles to develop. The report can be accessed at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/climate-change-health-effects-in-the-uk

The UKHSA monitors mosquito-borne diseases and has a national plan for invasive mosquitoes, which you can find at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-contingency-plan-for-invasive-mosquitoes