Ticks in England and around the world can carry infections, including Lyme disease and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE).
Ticks can be active all year round, but they are most active in the months April to July, and sometimes later in the autumn. Activity continues over the winter months but at a significantly reduced level.
To help you stay safe, we’ve compiled a guide to protecting yourself from tick-borne infections. In this blog post, you’ll learn how to avoid tick bites, how to recognise the signs and symptoms of Lyme disease and TBE, and when to seek medical assistance.
Where are ticks found?
Ticks live in many different outdoor environments but they are particularly common in grassy and wooded areas. You are therefore more at risk of being bitten if you take part in activities such as hiking, cycling or camping. You might also be exposed to ticks while on a walk in some urban parks and gardens.
How to avoid tick-borne infections
While walking in green spaces, stick to clearly defined paths and try to avoid brushing against vegetation where ticks might be present. Also consider wearing clothing that covers your skin to make it more difficult for ticks to access a suitable place to bite.
Use insect repellent (ideally containing 50% DEET) and regularly check clothing or exposed skin so that you can spot any crawling ticks and brush them off.
After spending time outside, it’s very important to 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. Fine-tipped tweezers are different from regular tweezers that might be used to remove eyebrow hair. They are very narrow and pointed at the tip and ensure that ticks are not squashed during removal.
What are the symptoms of Lyme disease?
One of the most common symptoms is a spreading, ‘bullseye’ rash at the site of the tick bite which typically develops 3 to 30 days after being bitten. This rash does not occur in all cases. Other symptoms include mild flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache and fatigue, a facial droop, nerve pains and numbness or tingling in the hands or feet.
What are the symptoms of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV)?
TBEV is a viral infection that spreads through tick bites. Although it is prevalent in many parts of the world, including several European countries, in the last few years, ticks carrying TBEV have been found in a few areas in England. A very small number of human TBE cases have been diagnosed that are thought to have been acquired in the UK.
TBEV causes a range of presentations, from completely asymptomatic infection to mild flu-like illness, all the way to severe infection in the central nervous system such as meningitis or encephalitis (swelling of the brain).
Symptoms of encephalitis and meningitis can include a high fever with a headache, neck stiffness, confusion, seizures or fits, reduced or loss of consciousness.
Seek urgent medical attention if you or anyone you know experiences:
- severe headache
- stiff neck
- pain looking at bright lights
- a fit (seizure), if not known to be epileptic
- sudden confusion or change in behaviour
- weakness or loss of movement in arms and legs
- facial drooping, change in vision or slurred speech
Vaccine for travellers
Ticks that spread TBE can be found in:
- most of Europe – including the UK
- Russia
- parts of China and Japan
Consider having the tick-borne encephalitis vaccine if you’re visiting a country where the infection is common and you’re planning to do outdoor activities when you get there.
2 injections of the vaccine can protect you for about a year. A 3rd injection can protect you for about 3 years.
You need to have the first injection at least 1 month before travelling.
The cost of each vaccine is £70.00
