Monday, August 18, 2014

New aggressive tick viruses found – Aftonbladet

Ticks with a new TBE virus may be on the way to Sweden.

The virus is reminiscent of the dreaded and deadly HYPR circulated in Czechoslovakia in the seventies.

– It is worrying. It is very aggressive and causes more aggressive disease, says Magnus Johansson, a researcher at Örebro University.

Researchers have found a new TBE virus in ticks. The virus is probably more aggressive than what we are used to.

– You get sicker if you get a tick bite, and it can lead to higher mortality, says Magnus Johansson, researchers at Örebro University and Södertörn University who leads the project .

circulated in Czechoslovakia

The virus was discovered in southern Norway. When scientists mapped the genome, they realized that it was almost identical to another, much feared, TBE virus.

– It is very similar HYPR, an aggressive and deadly tick viruses that circulated in Czechoslovakia in the seventies. Most indications are that this is more aggressive than what we are used to, says Magnus Johansson.

Tbe can cause inflammation of the brain and the suffering may get high fever and severe headache. Deaths occur, but the risk is very small in Sweden.

Ticks that carry the usual variant of tbe found mainly in Stockholm, Södermanland and Uppsala County coastal areas.



Scientists are worried

But in recent years it has gained new ground and are now including in Västra Götaland and large parts of Småland.

– It is clear that the virus is spreading to new areas at risk, says Magnus Johansson .

The vaccine that protects against the common variant also helps against the new aggressive virus. If you are already affected by tbe and become immune persists even immunity.

The scientists are still concerned about the discovery.

– The more the virus spreads, the more increases the risk that they get sick. If this more aggressive form establishes itself here, it is worrying. Above all it is important to develop future cures, says Magnus Johansson.

Today there is no cure for tbe.

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