Multiple ticks across the UK have been found to carry tick - borne cephalitis virus , and one human lawsuit has been confirm , fix it the first eccentric of the rare virus in the UK . Health official now admonish the public to ride out aside from tick where possible , as this adds to the potentially unsafe disease they may carry .
The promulgation comes from anew risk assessmentby the UK Health Security Agency .
Tick - bear cephalitis ( TBE ) is a viral disease because of the tick - borne encephalitis computer virus ( TBEV ) , a appendage of the flavivirus family . The disease is primarily transmitted through the raciness of infected ticks , but canalsobe transmit through the consumption of unpasteurized milk from septic animals . While most cases are symptomless , the computer virus can get lighting of the genius , lead to symptoms such as fever , vexation , nausea , vomiting , muscular tissue weakness , and confusion . In stark grammatical case , TBE can lead to lasting neurological damage or even decease .
In late years , TBE has become an emerging public health concern in some regions due to increasing incidence and expanding geographic statistical distribution . It is most common in Russia and part of China and Japan , but it is also regularly found across Europe . Despite this , there have only been three probable character in the UK since 2019 ; the most recent case in 2022 is the only one to be confirmed as TBE .
" The virus has clearly become establish in multiple places in the UK , most credibly as a consequence of infect ticks travel on migrating bird , " Roman Biek , Professor of Disease Ecology and Molecular Epidemiology at the University of Glasgow , explicate in astatement . " The opportunities for this to happen would have exist for a long time . So why these debut were successful only recently , as suggested by the data available so far and alike timelines of emergence in other European countries , is not clear . identify the environmental conditions , or changes to these conditions , that played a role in TBEV emergence , is an obvious research priority flop now . "
The risk to the general public in the UK is still take to be very humbled , but health officials urge caution around areas with many ticks and to use farsighted wearable and take preventative measures .
“ Our surveillance suggests that ticking - borne encephalitis computer virus is very rare in the UK and that the danger to the general population is very down in the mouth , ” Dr Meera Chand , Deputy Director at UKHSA , suppose in a program line .
“ Ticks also run various other infections , admit Lyme disease , so take steps to thin your chances of being bite when outdoors in domain where ticks thrive , such as moorland and woodlands , and remember to check for ticks and remove them promptly . ”
