Disease-Carrying Hyalomma Ticks Persist Longer in UK Due to Hotter Summers, Raising Health Concerns
Disease-carrying Hyalomma ticks are surviving for extended periods in the UK, a phenomenon attributed to hotter summers, according to Dr. Jolyon Medlock, head of medical entomology at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). Previously, temperatures were not sufficient for these ticks to mature into adulthood. Hyalomma ticks are the primary vectors for Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, a potentially severe and life-threatening virus with a fatality rate of up to 40%, as reported by the World Health Organization. These ticks typically arrive in the UK as nymphs, carried by migratory birds from the Mediterranean and Africa. While still rare, health officials are observing an increase in their ability to moult to the adult stage during heatwave years. The UKHSA’s Tick Surveillance Scheme, established in 2005, monitors ticks across the UK. Dr. Medlock noted that while the presence of adult ticks doesn't automatically mean an infection risk, it indicates a climate-sensitive shift in tick-borne disease pathogens. ...
