UKHSA ISSUES URGENT HEALTH WARNING AFTER WALKING OUTDOORS
Brits have been issued an urgent warning to take care when walking outdoors this summer due to a serious risk to health. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has shared guidance on how to stay safe from ticks.
Ticks are tiny, spider-like creatures that live in undergrowth and latch on to animals including humans when they walk through long grass. They are becoming more prevalent in parts of the UK, mainly due to increasing numbers of deer.
While feeding, they can transmit viruses and infections that cause disease, with the most common being Lyme disease. In a post made to X, the UKHSA said: “Summer’s a great time to get outside, but ticks love the outdoors too.
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“If you're walking through grassy or wooded areas, take a look at our guidance to help you stay safe and be tick aware.” In an infographic, it explained what to do if you find a tick on your body.
What to do if you've been bitten by a tick
“Remove ticks as soon as you find them,” it said. “If you have a tick removal device, follow its instructions or use a pair of fine-tipped tweezers.”
Next you need to grasp the tick “as close to the skin as you can”. The UKHSA explained: “Pull upwards firmly, making sure all of the tick is removed.”
You then need to clean the bite area with soap and water, and keep an eye on it for a few weeks in case of “any changes” The health authority warned: “Look out for a spreading bullseye rash, which is a common symptom of Lyme disease three to 30 days after being bitten.
“If you become unwell, for example with a spreading circular rash, flu-like symptoms, nerve pain or a droop on one or both sides of the face within a few weeks of a tick bite, call your GP practice or NHS 111.”
Other potential symptoms of Lyme disease include:
- A high temperature, or feeling hot and shivery
- Headache
- Muscle and joint pain
- Tiredness and loss of energy
The NHS warns that some people who are diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease continue to have symptoms, like tiredness, aches and loss of energy, that can last for years. “These symptoms are often compared to fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome,” it says.
“It's not clear why this happens to some people and not others. This means there's also no agreed treatment.”
You should speak to a doctor if your symptoms come back, or do not improve, after treatment with antibiotics.
To reduce the risk of being bitten by a tick in the first place, the NHS recommends you:
- Cover your skin while walking outdoors and tuck your trousers into your socks
- Use insect repellent on your clothes and skin – products containing DEET are best
- Stay on clear paths whenever possible
- Wear light-coloured clothing so ticks are easier to see and brush off
