Hikers urged to check themselves for ticks after deadly virus found in UK

Risk of tick-borne encephalitis virus is very low, but infection can be life threatening

Hikers and mountain bikers have been urged to protect themselves after health officials confirmed that a potentially deadly virus spread by ticks is present in the UK.

The first confirmed domestically acquired case of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) was identified in a 50-year-old man who was bitten by ticks while mountain biking in Yorkshire.