First report of human exposure to Hyalomma marginatum in England: Further evidence of a Hyalomma moulting event in north-western Europe?

Hyalomma marginatum is widely distributed across the Mediterranean, Northern Africa and the Middle East. Current climate conditions in Northern Europe are thought to limit the species’ ability to moult to the adult stage. It is a vector of several pathogens of human and veterinary concern, including Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus, for which it is the primary vector in Europe. Here, we report the first human exposure to a locally acquired adult H. marginatum in England, and the second detection in England of Rickettsia aeschlimannii associated with imported Hyalomma.