Health experts have said that there are increasing concerns over a new illness similar to Lyme disease caused by the spread of ticks in the UK.

The experts have found that the bacteria were carried by parasites that are resistant to drugs. They said that the new disease causes headaches, fatigue and muscle disease in a similar manner to the Lyme disease.

A team of researchers at the Public Health laboratory in Porton Down, Wiltshire have discovered the ticks carrying bacteria, Borreliamiyamatoi that causes the illness. The researchers said that the spider-like creatures are often found infesting deer and can also be found undergrowth. Experts said that no reports of the illness have been recorded in the UK yet but 18 people in the US have been infected.

Stella Huyshe-Shires, of Lyme Disease Action, said, "We know this new disease, caused by the recently identified bacteria Borreliamiyamatoi, is in the UK. To date, it has only been found in a handful of ticks, but it will sound alarm bells.It causes similar symptoms to Lyme disease, and that will add to the confusion and complexity of diagnosing these various illnesses."

Huyshe said that there are concerns that this bacteria can be misdiagnosed as flu or other viral infections and could be given ineffective treatment and face the risk of more serious consequences like Lyme disease.The new disease was first discovered in Japan in 1995 but it was only linked to humans by the Yale School of Public Health in 2011.