New warning issued over tick bites after 1,500 cases of Lyme disease reported in a year
Figures last year after the Case of Lyme disease confirmed more than 1,500, the British are asked to take extra care against tick bites this summer.
The UK Health Safety Agency (UKHSA) warned that in 2024 there was a cases of 1,581 laboratory -approved Lyme disease, but the real number could be much higher.
UKHSA said that Lyme is a bacterial infection transmitted by infected ticks in grass and forests.
According to Ukhsa, not all ticks carry bacteria, and everyone who is bitten by an infected tick will not be disturbed.
To pass the infection, a tick should usually be attached for hours. It is not possible that people get sick if they see a tick that creeps before they are bitten.
The most common early symptom of Lyme disease is the rash of a circular “bullse” rash that arises between three to 30 days after a bite.
Other symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, nerve pain, numbness, and in some cases face sagging.
“It is really important that people continue to be aware of themselves to protect themselves against Lyme disease this summer, Micro said Microbiologist Christina Petridou, a microbiologist Microbiologist, said.
Ms. Petridou advised to check the ticks outdoors after time, as the bites are usually painless and ticks could be as small as poppy seeds.
According to Ukhsa, the majority of confirmed cases last year were reported in South West, South East and London, and more people peaked in the spring and summer months in parks, forests and fields.
To reduce the risk, the Ukhsa recommends to stick to the clearly marked roads, to brush against long grass, to wear clothes covering the skin, and to use insect repellent containing deet.
He advises people to control themselves, their clothes and their pets for ticks after being outdoors.
Ukhsa says that any attached tick should be removed quickly using a tick removal tool or fine -ended tweezers instead of a normal tweeper.
If Lyme disease is usually caught early, it can be successfully treated with antibiotics.
