Overview
- UK Health Security Agency data and a regional One Health surveillance report show laboratory‑confirmed acute Lyme cases in England rose to 1,168 in 2025 from 959 in 2024, with 281 cases recorded in the South West.
- The South West has the highest rates of reported tick bites and has been a major contributor to the national Tick Surveillance Scheme since 2013, making it a persistent regional hotspot for tick‑borne disease.
- Ticks are most commonly picked up in woodland, long grass and heathland and bite reports peak in late spring and early summer, with transmission of the Lyme bacterium typically requiring about 24–48 hours of tick attachment.
- UKHSA South West advises people to cover exposed skin, use insect repellent, check themselves and their children and pets after outdoor activity, remove ticks promptly with fine‑tipped tweezers or a removal device, and seek medical advice for a spreading rash or flu‑like symptoms.
- Media reports note growing but early‑stage scientific and pharmaceutical interest in anti‑tick treatments and new drugs to tackle Lyme disease, while officials say continued surveillance and public precautions will guide prevention efforts going forward.