Tick-borne encephalitis: from tick surveillance to the first confirmed human cases, the United Kingdom, 2015 to 2023.

ABSTRACT: BackgroundTick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is a flavivirus spread by ticks and can cause tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in humans. Previously, TBE has been reported in returning travellers in the United Kingdom (UK), but in 2019 and 2020, two probable cases of TBE acquired in the UK were identified.AimThe aim of this study was to investigate TBE cases in the UK between 2015 and 2023, describing the incidence, place and mode of acquisition and diagnostic process.MethodsA retrospective review of possible, probable and confirmed cases of TBE diagnosed by the Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory (RIPL) between January 2015 and December 2023 was performed. For cases identified in 2022 and 2023, clinical data were collected for enhanced surveillance using structured case record forms. Labor

SUBMITTER: Callaby H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11803743 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature