Warning as deadly brain swelling disease infects UK patients for the first time without travel abroad

FOR the first time, a deadly brain swelling disease has been detected in British patients with no travel history - which proves it's now spreading locally.

The disease, which can cause brain inflammation, seizures, and long-term brain damage, was previously thought to be confined to mainland Europe, but has now made its way to the UK.

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) can even be deadly.

The viral infection is transmitted to humans via a tick bite. The ticks that carry it are most commonly found in most Europe, Russia, and parts of China and Japan.

But the virus has now been confirmed in British patients, as part of a study published in the journal .

UK researchers have now warned a threat of TBE is emerging.

Ticks in the UK are already known to transmit lyme disease and most typically bite in the summer months.

The new study looked at the first confirmed locally acquired human case of TBE in the UK and the public health implications.

The researchers conducted a retrospective analysis of cases diagnosed between 2015 and 2023.

They identified 21 TBE cases in humans in the UK between 2015 and 2023, including three possible, seven probable, and 11 confirmed cases.

Of these, 12 cases were diagnosed in 2022 to 2023.

One patient contracted TBE after tick exposure in Scotland, and another was infected in Yorkshire.

Both confirmed patients developed initial flu-like symptoms followed by neurological symptoms, including ataxia and confusion.

But they were able to recover with supportive care.

Surveillance also confirmed TBE in ticks collected from these locations, which supports evidence of an enzootic cycle - the continuous transmission of a disease within a specific geographic region.

Since 2023, testing for TBE has been expanded to include all referred cases of unexplained encephalitis, regardless of travel history, marking a significant change in public health policy. 

The researchers believe while the overall risk remains low, TBE should now be considered in cases of unexplained encephalitis, even in patients without recent travel.

Symptoms of TBE

Many TBE infections don't cause symptoms, or symptoms are considered mild.

According to the NHS some people get flu-like symptoms about a week after being bitten, such as:

• a high temperature
• tiredness
• headache
• aches and pains
• feeling sick

The symptoms usually go away on their own, but in a few people the infection spreads to the brain and causes more serious symptoms a few days or weeks later.

These can include:

• a stiff neck and a severe headache
• pain when looking at bright lights
• a fit (seizure)
• a change in behaviour, confusion or slurred speech
• weakness or loss of movement in part of the body

How to reduce your risk and treat TBE

There are things you can do to reduce your risk of being bitten by a tick when you're outside.

You should regularly check your clothes and skin for ticks that might be crawling on you, and brush them off before they can bite you.

Wearing light coloured clothing can make it easier to spot ticks.

Opt to walk on clearly defined paths so you can avoid brushing against plants that might have ticks on them.

Using an insect repellent such as DEET on your skin can also deter ticks from biting you.

And wearing long trousers and long-sleeved tops is advised.

There's no specific treatment for TBE. It's best to manage symptoms with rest, fluids, and pain relievers.

But TBE can be life-threatening if it spreads to your brain, and you'll need to be treated in hospital if you're seriously unwell.