As if we didn’t have enough deadly diseases to worry about, a potentially fatal virus carried by ticks has now been confirmed by health officials to be present in the UK.
Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) was first identified in the UK after a 50-year-old man was bitten while mountain biking in Yorkshire. Officials said the virus has also been detected in Hampshire, Dorset and Norfolk, with another possible case in the Loch Earn area of Scotland.
TBEV is commonly found in many other countries around the world. While infections may be asymptomatic, the disease can also lead to anything from a mild flu to severe infections of the central nervous system such as meningitis or encephalitis.
Encephalitis is a potentially life-threatening condition in which the brain becomes swollen. It requires immediate hospital treatment, with very young and very old people being most at risk.
While officials said the risk of infection to the general public was ‘very low’, they recommended that people take precautions when visiting areas with long grass, such as woodlands and parks. These measures include covering ankles and legs to avoid tick bites, as well as using insect repellent and regularly checking clothes for ticks.
Members of the public who experience illness after a tick bite have been told to seek GP advice. Early symptoms of encephalitis infection from a tick bite can include:
• A high temperature
• A headache
• Feeling or being sick
• Aching muscles or joints