(NEW YORK) — In 2022, doctors recorded the first confirmed case of tick-borne encephalitis virus acquired in the United Kingdom.
It all began with a ride on a bike.
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A 50-year old man was mountain bicycling in the North Yorkshire Moors. This national park is known in England for its wide expanses woodlands and purple heather. During his ride, a black-legged cockroach burrowed itself into his skin. Five days later, the mountain biker developed symptoms commonly associated with a viral infection — fatigue, muscle pain, fever.
Initially, it seemed that he was on the mend. But about a month later, his coordination began to deteriorate. He had encephalitis or swelling in the brain, as revealed by an MRI scan. He was infected by tick-borne infection, also known as TBE. This potentially fatal disease is spread across new areas due to global warming, according to experts.
For the past 30 years, the U.K. has become roughly 1 degree Celsius warmer (1.8 degrees Fahrenheit) on average compared to the historical norm. According to studies, climate change is increasing the prevalence of tick-borne illness. Public health officials are especially concerned about TBE ,…
