Surge in acute cases of Lyme disease in Britain spurs ministers to act

Department of Health plans network of experts to support GPs and hospitals as concern grows about spread of potentially debilitating condition

Britain had a surge of cases this summer of Lyme disease, a tick-borne illness that in its most serious form can result in chronic fatigue, pain, confusion, depression-like symptoms and memory loss.

New figures show that after a two-year pause in the steady rise of cases, the number of acute cases - people who test positive and show symptoms of the disease - nearly doubled this summer, the peak season.