Travel health centre

Lyme disease

How can I avoid getting Lyme disease?

There is no vaccination to protect against Lyme disease, so the best prevention is avoiding ticks or protecting against being bitten by them.

In areas where ticks are prevalent, appropriate clothing such as long-sleeved shirts and trousers tucked into socks can help.

Lighter coloured fabrics make it easier to spot a tick and suitable insect repellents can be considered.

At the end of a visit to a tick area, inspect the skin and hair for ticks. Dogs may also bring ticks home on their fur.

Removing a tick

If you find a tick, care needs to be taken when removing it. Grip the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull it steadily away from the skin, Tweezers may help, as can special tick removal devices available from vets and pet shops.

What is the outlook for people with Lyme disease?

Most people with Lyme disease respond well to treatment with antibiotics and make a full recovery.

However, some people may have persistent symptoms or symptoms that recur.

Further courses of antibiotics may be recommended.