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05
Nov 2019
Infectious brain illness spread by tick bites identified in UK
Public Health England has confirmed cases of the tick-borne brain virus encephalitis in two parts of England, on the Hampshire-Dorset border and Thetford Forest.
The authority say the risk to people is still “very low” and are monitoring the situation to check how common the infected ticks may be.
Public Health England’s Dr Nick Phin, said “These are early research findings and indicate the need for further work. However, the risk to the general public is currently assessed to be very low.”
Tick-born encephalitis is currently circulating in Scandinavia and Asia, as well as some parts of mainland Europe. Evidence of how it arrived in the UK is unclear, although experts say infected ticks may have come in through migratory birds.
As well as encephalitis, ticks can also carry other diseases which can make people ill, including Lyme disease.
Dr Phin said “We are reminding people to be ‘tick aware’ and take tick precautions, particularly when visiting or working in areas with long grass such as woodlands, moorlands and parks.”
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Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.
Freephone : 0800 304 738
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