Cycling UK Forum

Brain illness spread by ticks has reached UK
I take it this this isnt Lymes disease but some thing else? Ticks still the culprit

An infectious disease that can harm the brain and is spread to people by tick bites has been identified in ticks in the UK for the first time.

Public Health England (PHE) says it has confirmed cases of tick-borne encephalitis virus in ticks from two parts of England - Thetford Forest and an area on the Hampshire-Dorset border.

PHE says the risk to people is still "very low".

Maybe very low for normal people but maybe not so if you are (wild) camping?



https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-50206382

Benefits of being in the fresh air, clearing your head far outweigh the risks of contracting this.

Still far more likely to be flattened by a car cycling to the campsite.

I don't think most people reconsider going camping in France or Europe because of this.

If it is a concern for somebody you can get vaccinated against it (bit expensive but if it's a concern ...)

Ian

I live in the New Forest and wild camp there.
It's sensible to check for ticks after trips and not at all uncommon to find them. However the risk is low provided they are removed promptly.
It's best to keep risks in proportion.

Wouldn't hurt to have a tick removal tool in your kit if you wild camp: https://lymediseaseuk.com/2015/10/26/tick-removal/
I've had one. I was very, very unhappy bunny.

Absolutely, it's in my puncture repair kit!

TBE can be very nasty. In areas of Sweden where there are infected ticks, most people do routinely get vaccinated for this. I spend a lot of time in Sweden in one of the "hot spots" so took the vaccinations. Whilst that may be OTT for the UK at the moment, it's as well to be extra vigilant in the two areas mentioned in the report. Having pulled a tick from close to a very sensitive area, I may be a bit paranoid about this !

seems there is another one? The one above is encephalitis virus

The latest is B venatorum? This one in Scotland

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/nov/20/potentially-deadly-tick-borne-parasite-found-in-uk?utm_term=RWRpdG9yaWFsX0d1YXJkaWFuVG9kYXlVS19XZWVrZGF5cy0xOTExMjE%3D&utm_source=esp&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=GuardianTodayUK&CMP=GTUK_email

so thats 3 incl Lymes?