Urgent alert for UK tourists travelling to France from now until late autumn

A health website linked by the Foreign Office has warned some British tourists in France to be careful because of the risk of a tick-borne illness.

The Travel Health Pro website, found on the Foreign Office’s 'Health' page, says people should take extra care when visiting certain parts of France.

The site gives advice on how to avoid getting ill, including getting vaccinated before you travel. This can help keep you safe during your trip.

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a virus spread by ticks that bite the skin. In rare cases, it can also come from drinking unpasteurised milk from infected animals like cows, goats, and sheep.

The website says people doing outdoor activities are more likely to be exposed to ticks. These can be found in grassy areas like gardens, parks, meadows, woods, forest edges, and even in some city parks.

Cases of TBE have been seen in parts of north-east France, such as Bas-Rhin and Haut-Rhin in Alsace, near the city of Nancy, as well as around Faverges, Grenoble, and the south-western area of Gironde.

TBE is most common from early spring until late autumn, which is the time when ticks are most active.

The NHS says most people who get TBE don’t have symptoms, but if they do, it usually feels like the flu with symptoms such as fever, headaches, and tiredness.

One tip is to wear light-coloured clothing, which makes it easier to see ticks before they bite.

The TBE vaccine is available in the UK and is recommended for people travelling to higher-risk areas, such as forests or parks. It’s especially useful for those doing outdoor work or activities like hiking, camping, farming, or fieldwork.

Discover more hidden gems with our interactive map!

Did you know we have a Hidden Gem Finder on our website? This handy little map shows over 12,000 hidden gems across the entire world with their exact co-ordinates available to view on Google Maps as well as an image/description for each one!

Click to view Hidden Gem Finder!