Ticks and Lyme Disease
- Ticks carrying disease are found across the UK in both town and countryside
- Not all ticks are infected – infection rate in any place in the UK varies from zero to about 15%
- Most active March to October, but they can be active on mild winter days
- You will not feel the tick attach to you, so check your skin and that of children
What are ticks?
Ticks are small spider-like animals, which are almost invisible to the bare eye. Because of this, the ticks become even more dangerous: most of the time you discover a tick after it has bitten the skin and has sucked itself with blood. That is why it is important to check yourself after you have been in grass, bushes, or heath.
Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is a serious illness which can be spread to humans from the bite of an infected tick. Each year, more cases of Lyme disease are being diagnosed in the United Kingdom, as infected ticks are known to exist in many regions across the country.
More information can be found on the Lyme Disease Action website and the NHS website.
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