- Health officials have reported two new probable cases of locally-acquired tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in the UK last year, bringing the total number of such cases to six.
- One TBE case was linked to a tick bite in Dartmoor, while the other involved visits to the Peak District and the Outer Hebrides, with TBE previously considered an 'imported disease' until 2019.
- The TBE virus is currently believed to be limited to specific areas in Britain, including Thetford Forest, New Forest, Devon, North Yorkshire, Dartmoor, and parts of Scotland.
- Lyme disease, another tick-borne illness, saw 1,168 cases recorded in England last year, an increase from 959 in 2024, with symptoms often including a 'bullseye' rash.
- While no locally-acquired mosquito-borne infections were reported, officials highlight a growing threat from invasive Aedes mosquitoes and climate change, despite the overall risk remaining low.
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