Ticks are parasites that can transmit infections to humans, including Lyme disease, Alpha-gal syndrome and tick-borne encephalitis. Visit our blog post to find answers to common questions about ticks, the risks they pose, and how to protect yourself.
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that can be transmitted to humans through the bite of infected ticks, usually outdoors in green spaces. Visit our blog post on ticks to learn how to avoid them or remove them if you are bitten.
During the summer, many of us enjoy the longer days, warmer evenings, and time outdoors. But warmer weather also brings real risks to health, especially when temperatures climb higher than usual.
A time-limited MenB vaccine offer is available now for eligible young people, including those who are starting university as undergraduates or moving into residential further education settings for the first time in autumn 2026.
Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). It is a common cause of genital sores in England.
Outbreaks of cryptosporidium linked to drinking water are, thankfully, very rare. It's probably a once-in-a-decade event. So, when one began to emerge in Brixham in 2024, it presented us with a genuinely unusual and significant challenge - one that tested …
Many people think of syphilis as a disease of the past - something confined to history books rather than a present-day concern. The data tells a very different story. In 2025, more than 8000 cases of infectious syphilis were diagnosed …
West Nile virus (WNV) is a virus spread primarily through the bites of infected mosquitoes. It belongs to the same family of viruses as dengue, yellow fever and Japanese encephalitis. The virus circulates naturally between birds and mosquitoes, and humans or horses can be infected when bitten by a mosquito that has previously fed on …
When a serious infectious disease threat emerges anywhere in the world, the UK needs to be able to respond quickly. UKHSA plays a central role in that response, including through the government's medical evacuation arrangements, which allows us to safely repatriate those who may have been exposed to a high-consequence infectious disease. Here, Renu Bindra, …
Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is a viral infection that spreads through tick bites. Although it is common in many parts of the world, including several European countries, in the last few years, ticks carrying TBEV have been found in England.
