Union Safety - Official Website of NW BT Union Health and Safety Coordinators Committee: Warning Issued By UKHSA That Tick-borne Encephalitis Detected In UK

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Warning Issued By UKHSA That Tick-borne Encephalitis Detected In UK

Postal and Engineering workers at risk

Both the CWU and Unionsafety have issued each year information about tick-borne diseases of which Lyme Disease is perhaps the most common.

As far back as 2020, the CWU's Health, Safety and Environment National Officer Dave Joyce, warned of new tick-borne illnesses being found in the UK. Indeed, the Unionsafety E-Library contains documents going back to 2009 on the subject of Lyme Disease and Tick bites.

Now, a new risk assessment, published by a multi-agency cross-government committee, reports that tick borne encephalitis is now likely to be present in England, with one case having been reported in Scotland.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) have today released the following press release detailing the risk of Tick-borne diseases, especially that of Tick-Borne Encephalitis (TBEV) which was first seen in the UK in 2019.

The risk assessment is based on both human cases and the detection of the virus in ticks in several areas of the country. The risk to the general public in the UK remains very low.

There have been 3 cases of probable or confirmed tick-borne encephalitis acquired in England since 2019, including one linked to the Yorkshire area in 2022. This case in 2022 is the first confirmed case in England. The virus has also been detected previously in the Hampshire and Dorset, and Norfolk and Suffolk border areas but may also be present elsewhere as the tick species that carries the virus is widespread in the UK.

The tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is a virus carried by ticks and is common in many parts of the world, including many countries in Europe. It causes a range of disease, from completely asymptomatic infection, to mild flu-like illness, to severe infection in the central nervous system such as meningitis or encephalitis. Symptoms of this are similar to other causes of meningitis, and can include a high fever with headache, neck stiffness, confusion or reduced consciousness.

Investigations into why the virus has been found in ticks more frequently in recent years are under way, but is likely due to a number of factors.

The risk to the general public in the UK remains very low from TBEV, but the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has recommended changes to testing in hospitals so that any further cases can be detected promptly and will be enhancing surveillance – including asymptomatic surveillance in people in the areas where TBEV has been detected.

Ticks can carry other diseases such as Lyme disease – a bacterial infection which can be treated with antibiotics – so UKHSA is reminding the public to check themselves for ticks after they have been outdoors and remove them promptly and correctly if they are found.

Removing Ticks are best done by someone with you at the time of the bite being discovered. Details on how to remove a Tick can be read below this press release.

Dr Meera Chand, Deputy Director at UKHSA, said:

"Our surveillance suggests that tick-borne encephalitis virus is very uncommon in the UK and that the risk to the general population is very low. Ticks also carry various other infections, including Lyme disease, so take steps to reduce your chances of being bitten when outdoors in areas where ticks thrive, such as moorlands and woodlands, and remember to check for ticks and remove them promptly."

UKHSA carries out surveillance of vector-borne disease in the UK, closely monitoring sentinel animals, tick and mosquito species and their distribution, and the infections that they carry, to understand more about emerging infections in this country.

The public are reminded that they should seek GP advice if they are unwell after a tick bite, and should seek urgent medical attention if they or someone they know:

has symptoms of meningitis:

severe headache
stiff neck
pain looking at bright lights

develops neurological symptoms:

a fit (seizure), if not known to be epileptic
sudden confusion or change in behaviour
weakness or loss of movement in arms and legs
facial dropping, change in vision or slurred speech

You can download the Human Animal Infections and Risk Surveillance (HAIRS) Risk Assessment process from the UK Gov website, here

How To Remove A Tick

Don’t panic. Remove the tick as soon as possible.

Even if the tick is carrying infection it is very unlikely to transmit it in the first few hours of its feed, so early removal is a very effective prevention measure.

Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible, using fine tweezers or finger nails, and pull firmly and steadily without jerking or twisting. Don’t rush. Try not to squeeze or crush the tick’s body.

Sometimes, tick mouth parts can break off from the body and remain in the skin. This is unlikely to increase the risk of Lyme disease, but common skin organisms could cause infection. Apply a skin disinfectant once the tick has been removed. Specially designed tick extractors are available from veterinary practices and pet shops. They are inexpensive and particularly useful for people who are likely to have frequent tick exposure.

Never apply heat, e.g. lighted cigarette ends or match heads, to attached ticks. Do not use chemicals such as alcohol, nail polish remover, petroleum jelly or aromatic oils to ticks prior to removal. These substances could increase infection risk by stimulating the tick to regurgitate saliva into the bite wound. Check for redness around the site of the bite.

If you are concerned in any way or become unwell, see your doctor as soon as possible.

See the New Forest information leaflet, available from the Unionsafety E-Library for further information.

Source: UKHSA / NHS / unionsafety / CWU LTB 431/2020