Tick-borne encephalitis: what you need to know about TBE as first case found in UK
Tick-borne encephalitis can cause neurological symptoms lasting years, and while there is a preventative vaccine, there is no treatment once you have the disease
Health officials are warning the public to brush up on their tick bite prevention knowledge, after the first human case of a potentially deadly virus carried by the parasitic arachnids was confirmed in the UK.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) revealed on Wednesday (5 April) that the first domestically-acquired case of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) has been identified in a man bitten by ticks in the Yorkshire area, as well as another probable case in Scotland.
They stress that although the risk to the public is low, it is important for people to protect themselves from being bitten by the tiny insects - which can also transmit the much more common Lyme disease.
With the UKHSA now warning the virus is "likely" to be present in ticks across the UK, here is everything you need to know.
Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a viral infection spread by tick bites. Ticks that spread it are found in parts of Europe and Asia according to the NHS - and now some parts of the UK.
People who are infected usually develop symptoms within one to two weeks. They often get flu-like symptoms like feeling hot and shivery, headaches, aching muscles, and vomiting.
In some cases the infection can become more severe, with the virus affecting the brain (encephalitis), or spinal cord (meningitis). This can lead to symptoms like confusion, loss of coordination, difficulty speaking, weakness of the arms or legs, and seizures. In rare cases, the disease can cause paralysis, or even be fatal.
There is no medication as of yet that can treat the TBE virus after someone is infected.
So far, the only clinical cases have been in the north. Health authorities say the first domestically-acquired case of TBE was identified in a man bitten by ticks in Yorkshire, while another probable human case was also detected in the Loch Earn area of Scotland.
However, the UKHSA says the virus has also been detected in ticks in Hampshire and Dorset to the south, and Norfolk in the east.
