A tick-borne virus that can cause severe meningitis has been found in parts of England.
This is shown in a new report from select experts from UKHSA, which is in charge of UK health care, and DEFRA, which manages agriculture and food production.
Before Sky News who first mentioned this issue.
The report is based on three cases of people infected with tick-borne encephalitis (TBEV) in England since 2019. The first case was detected in Yorkshire in 2020, while two more cases were recorded in Hampshire/Dorset and Norfolk this year. Additionally, viruses have been detected in ticks from these areas.
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– Follow closely
Dr Meera Chand, UKHSA deputy director, told Sky News the disease is rare.
– We have a good picture of the occurrence of viral tick-borne encephalitis in the UK, and we know that it is very rare. Therefore, the risk to the general population is very low.
He clarified that UKHSA remains following the situation closely.
– But we continue to monitor the situation and have taken steps to ensure that we can detect and treat new cases effectively, he said.
Life threatening
TBEV is a virus that is found in many countries around the world, especially in Europe. This can cause a variety of symptoms, from none at all to flu-like symptoms, to inflammation of the meninges or brain (encephalitis).
Encephalitis can be life-threatening and requires immediate treatment. Symptoms can include high fever, headache, stiff neck, confusion or loss of consciousness.
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Clear recommendations
UKHSA advises anyone who has been bitten by a tick and who experiences these symptoms to contact a doctor immediately. They also introduced changes to in-hospital testing to quickly detect new cases of TBEV.
– Fleas can also carry other infections, so it’s important to be aware of tick bites and seek medical attention if you get sick after a bite, explains Chand.
Ticks can also transmit other diseases, such as Lyme disease. This is a bacterial infection that can be treated with antibiotics if caught early.
In order to prevent tick-borne diseases, it is important to protect yourself from ticks when you are out in nature.
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