Ticks live in many different outdoor environments, but they are particularly common in grassy and wooded areas.
The Public Health Team at Brighton and Hove City Council are encouraging people to be tick aware while enjoying the outdoors. Ticks in England can carry infections, including Lyme disease and, very rarely, tick-borne encephalitis.
Ticks can be active all year round, but they are most active in the months of April to July, and sometimes later in the autumn.
Information about ticks
Ticks are small, spiderlike creatures that feed on the blood of animals, including people. During this feeding process, they can transmit bacteria, viruses or other microorganisms which can result in infections such as Lyme Disease.
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, but ticks can also sometimes be found in urban gardens.
Tick bites are not always painful. You may not notice a tick unless you see it on your skin.
The chance of acquiring a tick bite when enjoying outdoor activities can be reduced by:
- regularly checking clothing and exposed skin for ticks that might be crawling on you and brushing them off immediately
- walking on clearly defined paths to avoid brushing against vegetation where ticks may be present
- wearing light-coloured clothing so that ticks crawling on clothing can be spotted and brushed off immediately
- using an insect repellent (for example DEET) that can repel ticks and prevent them from climbing onto clothing or attaching to skin (always follow the manufacturer’s guidance)
- wearing long trousers and long-sleeved tops to reduce the direct exposure of ticks to your skin, making it more difficult for them to find a suitable area to attach
After spending time outside, check yourself, your clothing, your pets and others for ticks. Some tick bites can result in infection so if you find a tick, safely remove it as soon as possible. More info on how to remove ticks from the skin can be found on the Lyme disease NHS site.
If you begin to feel unwell with flu-like symptoms or develop a spreading circular rash (which usually appears within 1 to 4 weeks after being bitten), contact your GP practice or dial NHS 111 promptly. On the Student Hub you can find more information about the health services available to you if you are feeling unwell or need to arrange healthcare.