Ticks and Lyme Disease

Ever heard of Lyme disease? Well, some 2000 people are infected with this illness as a result of a tick bite each year in the UK.

Ticks are not restricted to the countryside. They are also found in suburban areas, particularly parkland, and in areas where deer and other such animals graze. There is an increased risk of picking up an infection, especially during the warmer months of the year.

Not every tick carries the Lyme Boriliosis bacteria, and even if you are bitten by a tick that does carry the bacteria it is not certain that you will become infected. So the risk of acquiring Lyme disease is limited, and the disease does respond to antibiotics. However, the symptoms can be quite uncomfortable. They often include a rash that will spread from the tick bite, tiredness, headache, fever, muscle/joint ache, stiff neck and swollen glands of varying degrees of severity.

Rather than repeat information on this website that is readily available elsewhere, for detailed information on how to avoid tick bites, recognise the symptoms of Lyme disease and/or BMD, and safely remove ticks should you bitten please review the websites below:

Enjoy the outdoors but ‘be tick aware’

LDA - Lyme Disease Action

BMD - Borrelia Miyamotoi Disease

Heartland Virus