Tick season - How to prevent the disease carrying parasite

People are most likely to encounter ticks when doing activities in the countryside or other green spaces such as woodland, some urban parks or gardens.

There are currently no vaccines to defend against tick-borne disease in the UK and Ireland - therefore, the best defence is to avoid being bitten.

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Ticks are most active in the spring and summer months when the weather warms up but they can be found all year round.

3,000 cases of Lyme disease in England each year

There are estimated to be around 3,000 cases of Lyme disease diagnosed in England each year.

And studies estimate that between one and five per cent of tick bites can lead to Lyme disease.

Since data collection began in 2005, there has been a general trend of increasing cases of Lyme disease, although yearly fluctuations have been observed, according to the UKHSA.

In 2021, there were a total of 1,156 laboratory-confirmed cases of Lyme disease in England and Wales.

What is Lyme disease? 

Lyme disease is an infection that can be passed to people when they are bitten by an infected tick.

Ticks are most active in the spring and summer months when the weather warms up but they can be found all year round.

In the UK, Lyme disease is an uncommon infection and can be successfully treated with a full course of antibiotics.

This is the case for most people who contract Lyme disease, but if left untreated, the infection can spread to the nervous system and other areas of the skin, joints or rarely to the heart. 

What are the symptoms of Lyme disease?

Looking out for symptoms of Lyme disease, and prompt tick removal can reduce your chances of acquiring Lyme disease.

If you are bitten by an infected tick your symptoms will typically develop 1-4 weeks after being bitten, however, they can appear anytime between 3 to30 days after exposure.

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Symptoms include a spreading circular red rash, which may appear as a bulls-eye rash like the image below, as well as non-specific flu-like symptoms. Although a lot of people associate the disease with the rash, 1/3 of people don’t report seeing one.

Other signs to look out for include muscle or nerve pains or a drooping facial appearance when the nerves to the muscles around the upper part of the face are affected.

If you have developed symptoms after being bitten by a tick or spending time outdoors, immediately contact your GP or call NHS 111, mentioning where you have been and if you remember being bitten.

How to prevent Lyme disease and tick bites

While walking in green spaces, consider wearing clothing that covers your skin to make it more difficult for ticks to access a suitable place to bite.

Use insect repellent such as DEET and consider wearing light coloured clothing so that you can easily spot ticks and brush them off.

After spending time outside, check yourself, your clothing, your pets and others for ticks. Remove any attached tick as soon as you find it using a tick-removal tool or fine-tipped tweezers.

More information can be found on the NHS website.