Ticks and Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is the most important vector-borne health problem in Europe and North America. It is caused by bacteria of the genus Borrelia which are transferred from infected wildlife species to humans through the bite of a tick.

Since it was first described at Old Lyme, Connecticut, in 1974, incidence has risen dramatically, with more than 100,000 cases now being reported world-wide each year. Although Lyme disease is relatively uncommon in the UK, the number of cases is increasing steadily. People working in or visiting woodland are at-risk of being infected.

Late spring, early summer and autumn are peak feeding times for ticks. A lower level of feeding activity takes place in other seasons. Therefore, the risk to humans is potentially year-round. Populations of ticks carrying Borrelia are distributed widely throughout the UK.

To learn more, please download the RFS FACTSHEET, below, which has been written by Ted Wilson, of the University of Sheffield Medical School.

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Ticks-and-Lyme-disease_RFS-FACTSHEET_v2-1_030611.pdfTicks-and-Lyme-disease_RFS-FACTSHEET_v2-1_030611.pdf515.92 KB