The BMC has funded a new leaflet giving advice on ticks, how to avoid them and what to do if you are bitten.

The leaflet, produced by Arnside and Silverdale AONB, provides some useful information on what ticks are, how to avoid them and what to do if you are bitten.

Download the Tick awareness and advisory leaflet

Ticks are small arachnids, about the size of a poppy seed. They are external parasites that live off the blood of birds and mammals – including you. They are second only to mosquitoes for carrying diseases to humans, and in the UK can carry such pleasures as Lyme disease, Ehrlichiosis, Babesiosis and Bartonella. Global warming and changes in farming practices mean that across Europe there are now more ticks in the countryside.

This year several cases of Lyme disease have been reported. This is spread by animal ticks, particularly deer ticks. Other wild animals may also carry the ticks, which are found in scrub, long grass, bracken or other vegetation. Not all ticks carry the bacteria. The risk of infection can be reduced by wearing long trousers and long sleeved shirts when walking in tall vegetation during May-June and September-October. Tuck trousers into socks if necessary. Light coloured clothing will make ticks more noticeable so that they can be brushed off. Insect repellent sprays can help.

Public Health England information issued April 2013

Download ‘Protect yourself from TBE in Europe’ (pdf)

WATCH: Ticks and how to deal with them on BMC TV

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