Tick-borne encephalitis erupts in Russia

MOSCOW, Aug. 9 (UPI) -- The tick-borne virus encephalitis has shown growth in Russia, killing at least eight people in the past three weeks alone.

From January to the middle of July there were 25 fatal cases, including at least one child, Itar-Tass reported Thursday.

Consumer rights watchdog Rospotrebnadzor said the Novosibirsk Region had taken the greatest hit with seven deaths. Five people in the Primorye Territory and five more in the Krasnoyarsk Territory were killed by the disease.

Specialist reported a 70 percent growth in the number of patients infected with encephalitis, revealing that 1,638 patients have been infected recently compared with 934 in the same period last year.

Rospotrebnadzor’s online monitoring service said 330,000 patients who suffered tick bites, including 76,600 children, have sought medical assistance.