01 August 2023 , 12:13
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Brits travelling to France have been warned over a potentially lethal disease outbreak - and they're being told to remain vigilant after over 70 cases of tick-bourne encephalitis (TBE) have been reported by health officials. And 61 of these reported cases have been infected in the country.
At present, the cases appear to be concentrated around a region in the French Alps, so those travelling there for their summer holidays have been warned to watch out for the bugs which can be carriers.
With France, a popular holiday destination for many Brits, health experts at Now Patient have explained what tick-borne encephalitis is, as well as sharing the most common symptoms, and what to do if you think you have the infection.
TBE is an infection which affects the central nervous system and is spread to humans through bites from ticks. The ticks which cause the infection often live in grassy areas and humid woodland across Europe and including the UK. However, only a very small number of ticks living in the UK carry the tick-borne encephalitis virus so they pose little risk to humans.
The main symptoms of TBE include aches and pains, nausea, a high temperature, headaches, and fatigue. And if you are bitten by a tick, the most important thing to do is remove the tick. You can do this using a fine pair of fine-tipped tweezers or a tick removal tool, grabbing the tick as close as possible to the surface of your skin and pulling the tick upwards slowly but firmly.
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Once the tick has been successfully removed, ensure that no remaining parts of the tick are still in your skin, as this can cause infections. Dispose of the tick when it has been removed and then clean the infected area thoroughly with antiseptic or soap and water.
Navin Khosla, Pharmacist at Now Patient said: "With France being a popular holiday destination for thousands of Brits each year, it's important that travellers are aware of the symptoms of tick-borne encephalitis and what you should do if you think you have been infected.
"TBE is transmitted through tick bites and the ticks in question are most commonly found across Europe, and other countries such as China and Japan. Ticks live in humid woodlands and grassy areas and if they do manage to bite a human, the chances of falling ill are very low, but the main symptoms to look out for include aches and pains, nausea and fatigue, headaches and a high temperature.
"The most effective ways to reduce your chances of being bitten by a tick include wearing long-sleeved tops when walking in areas prone to ticks, walking on defined paths and try not to walk in long grassy areas and using insect repellent on your clothes and skin.
"If you believe you have been bitten by a tick and you're starting to experience some of the most common symptoms, then in most cases, they will go away after a week or two after being bitten. However, if the symptoms last for a longer period of time or become worse, then seek medical advice from your GP or contact 111."