Climate change could cause spike in ticks – and drive up Lyme disease cases

Published

1 year ago

April 13, 2024

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Climate change is “likely” to increase the activity and distribution of ticks in the UK, which could lead to a rise in Lyme disease cases, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

A potentially warmer and more humid climate is expected to result in ticks – which can infect humans with Lyme disease – being more active.

In most, but not all cases, a circular or oval “bullseye” shaped rash can be an early symptom of the bacterial infection, usually appearing within one to four weeks.

Reported cases have been rising, with a nearly 40% increase in acute cases of Lyme disease last summer.

The UKHSA says warmer, more humid temperatures are creating “favourable conditions” for ticks to thrive.

It’s expected that mild winters and warmer springs will lengthen the period that ticks are active – increasing the likelihood of tick bites.

The latest UKHSA data shows that in England, there were 882 acute cases of the disease between April and September last year, when ticks are most active.

That’s compared to 635 cases in 2022.

Jolyon Medlock, head of medical entomology at the UKHSA, told Sky News that ticks from “other parts of Europe” could appear in the UK.

He said “as climate warms in the UK in the coming decades, species that are not normally found in the UK might suddenly appear”.

“If there are more people exposed to ticks, we are likely to see more cases of Lyme disease in the future,” he added.

Laura Edwards, 34, was diagnosed with the disease in late 2019, after being “very very sick”.

With no memory of being bitten, she saw doctors over a period of seven years prior, looking for a diagnosis to explain her aches and pains, brain fog, oedema and sore joints.

She told Sky News she thought she was bitten by a tick as a child, but the symptoms did not appear until over a decade later.

Ms Edwards said: “Not only was I getting the physical symptoms, severe brain fog, severe fatigue, I was struggling to even get up in the mornings. Not knowing, forgetting things.”

She added her nerves were also affected “so I was falling over a lot”.

Her diagnosis resulted in four years of treatment, first with antibiotics via an IV drip, five hours a day for three weeks, before moving to oral antibiotics for a year and a half.

Raising awareness of the disease is Lyme Disease UK, a charity providing patient support.

Chair Natasha Metcalf has urged people “not to panic” if bitten by a tick, and to “learn how to remove a tick safely”.

She told Sky News it “involves using fine nose tweezers or a proper tick removal tool, not burning off with a match, not using Vaseline or anything else not designed to do the job”.

Ms Metcalf said people must remove the whole tick, not leaving any parts of its body in the skin.

UK

Families of British Air India crash victims ‘feel utterly abandoned’ and hit out at government

Published

3 hours ago

June 16, 2025

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Families of British Air India crash victims 'feel utterly abandoned' and hit out at government

The families of three of the British victims of last week’s Air India crash in Ahmedabad have criticised the UK government’s response to the disaster, saying they “feel utterly abandoned”.

It comes after an Air India Dreamliner crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad airport in western India, killing 229 passengers and 12 crew. One person on the flight survived.

Among the passengers and crew on the Gatwick-bound aircraft were 169 Indian nationals, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese nationals and one Canadian national.

In a statement, the families of three British citizens who lost their lives said they were calling on the UK government to “immediately step up its presence and response on the ground in Ahmedabad”.

The families said they rushed to India to be by their loved ones’ sides, “only to find a disjointed, inadequate, and painfully slow government reaction”.

“There is no UK leadership here, no medical team, no crisis professionals stationed at the hospital,” said a family spokesperson.

“We are forced to make appointments to see consular staff based 20 minutes away in a hotel, while our loved ones lie unidentified in an overstretched and under-resourced hospital.

“We’re not asking for miracles – we’re asking for presence, for compassion, for action,” another family member said.

“Right now, we feel utterly abandoned.”

The families listed a number of what they called “key concerns”, including a “lack of transparency and oversight in the identification and handling of remains”.

They also demanded a “full crisis team” at the hospital within 24 hours, a British-run identification unit, and financial support for relatives of the victims.

A local doctor had “confirmed” the delays in releasing the bodies were “linked to severe understaffing”, according to the families, who also called for an independent inquiry into the UK government’s response.

“Our loved ones were British citizens. They deserved better in life. They certainly deserve better in death,” the statement added.

Sky News has approached the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office for comment.

Families and friends of the victims have already expressed their anger and frustration – mostly aimed at the authorities in India – over the lack of information.

UK

Tributes paid to mother-of-four among two skydivers who died in ‘tragic accident’

Published

5 hours ago

June 16, 2025

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Tributes paid to mother-of-four among two skydivers who died in 'tragic accident'

A mother-of-four was among two skydivers who died following a “tragic accident” at an airfield in Devon.

Belinda Taylor was pronounced dead at the scene following Friday afternoon’s incident in the area of Dunkeswell Aerodrome near Honiton.

On Facebook, her partner Scott Armstrong wrote: “I miss you so much, you were my best friend.

“Thank you for everything you’ve done for me, from making my children feel at home to putting up with my mess.

“… there’s just so much that I don’t have the words to express it.

“I feel so lost. I don’t know where home is without you.”

Ms Taylor’s eldest son, Connor Bowles, paid tribute to a “selfless woman” who was also a grandmother to two young children.

Thanking investigators for their work so far, he told DevonLive: “She will be deeply missed and will leave an everlasting impression on all those she has met in life.”

The identity of the second skydiver who died is yet to be made public, but their family has been informed.

British Skydiving has confirmed it will be investigating the incident – with a report sent to the coroner, the Civil Aviation Authority and the police.

In a statement, SkydiveBuzz, which operates at the airfield, said its “deepest condolences go out to the families, friends and everyone affected by this devastating event”.

A spokesperson added: “Safety is, and always has been, our top priority. We are fully cooperating with the investigation and continue to uphold the highest possible standards in everything we do.

“No further details will be provided at this time. We respectfully ask for privacy for all those affected, including our team, during this incredibly difficult time.”

UK

Career spy Blaise Metreweli to become first woman to head MI6

Published

8 hours ago

June 16, 2025

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Career spy Blaise Metreweli to become first woman to head MI6

Career spy Blaise Metreweli will become the first woman to head MI6 in a “historic appointment”, the prime minister has announced.

She will take over from Sir Richard Moore as the 18th Chief, also known as “C”, when he steps down in the autumn.

“The historic appointment of Blaise Metreweli comes at a time when the work of our intelligence services has never been more vital,” Sir Keir Starmer said in a statement released on Sunday night.

“The United Kingdom is facing threats on an unprecedented scale – be it aggressors who send their spy ships to our waters or hackers whose sophisticated cyber plots seek to disrupt our public services.”

Of the other main spy agencies, GCHQ is also under female command for the first time.

Anne Keast-Butler took on the role in 2023, while MI5 has previously twice been led by a woman.

Until now, a female spy chief had only headed MI6 – also known as the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) – in the James Bond movies.

Dame Judi Dench held the fictional role – called “M” in the films instead of “C” – between 1995 and 2015.

Ms Metreweli currently serves as “Q”, one of four director generals inside MI6.

The position – also made famous by the James Bond films, with the fictional “Q” producing an array of spy gadgets – means she is responsible for technology and innovation.

Ms Metreweli, a Cambridge graduate, joined MI6 in 1999.

Unlike the outgoing chief, who spent some of his service as a regular diplomat in the foreign office, including as ambassador to Turkey, she has spent her entire career as an intelligence officer.

Much of that time was dedicated to operational roles in the Middle East and Europe.

Ms Metreweli, who is highly regarded by colleagues, also worked as a director at MI5.

In a statement, she said she was “proud and honoured to be asked to lead my service”.

“MI6 plays a vital role – with MI5 and GCHQ – in keeping the British people safe and promoting UK interests overseas,” she said.

“I look forward to continuing that work alongside the brave officers and agents of MI6 and our many international partners.”

Sir Richard said: “Blaise is a highly accomplished intelligence officer and leader, and one of our foremost thinkers on technology. I am excited to welcome her as the first female head of MI6.”