Ticks transmit infection while feeding from a host.  Contrary to common belief there is no proven safe attachment time before which transmission of infection can occur.

The risk is greater the longer a tick is attached but any contact puts you at risk.

Finding a feeding spot and preparing to feed can take a tick from 10 minutes to 2 hours depending on the species and life stage.

The tick will remain attached to the host from minutes to several days depending on species.  While feeding the tick will ingest any pathogens carried by the host animal and these pathogens may then be transmitted to the next host during the feeding process.

Tick-borne diseases are bacterial, viral, or parasitic infections transmitted through the bites of infected ticks.  In the UK the most prevalent disease carried by ticks is Lyme disease.

Common illnesses include:

Alpha-gal Syndrome (red meat allergy) - https://www.cdc.gov/alpha-gal-syndrome/about/index.html

Anaplasmosis - https://www.cdc.gov/anaplasmosis/about/index.html

Babesiosis - https://www.cdc.gov/babesiosis/about/index.html

Bourbon Virus - https://www.cdc.gov/bourbon-virus/about/index.html

Colarado Tick Fever - https://www.cdc.gov/colorado-tick-fever/about/index.html

Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) - https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/crimean-congo-haemorrhagic-fever

Deer Tick Virus - https://www.cdc.gov/powassan/about/index.html

Ehrlichiosis - https://www.cdc.gov/ehrlichiosis/about/index.html

Hard Tick Relapsing Fever (HTRF) - https://www.cdc.gov/relapsing-fever/about/about-htrf.html

Heartland Virus - https://www.cdc.gov/heartland-virus/about/index.html

Louping Ill Virus - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4811648/

Lyme Disease - https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/signs-symptoms/index.html

Powassan Virus - https://www.cdc.gov/powassan/about/index.html

Rickettsiosis - https://www.cdc.gov/yellow-book/hcp/travel-associated-infections-diseases/rickettsial-diseases.html

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) - https://www.cdc.gov/rocky-mountain-spotted-fever/about/index.html

Soft Tick Relapsing Fever (STRF) - https://www.cdc.gov/relapsing-fever/about/about-strf.html

Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness (STARI) - https://www.cdc.gov/stari/about/index.html

Tick-borne Encephalitis - https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/tick-borne-encephalitis

Tularemia - https://www.cdc.gov/tularemia/about/index.html

Tick bites are not always painful and you may not realise you have been bitten unless you see it on your skin.  Many tick-borne illnesses share similar early symptoms. If you have been bitten by a tick, watch for the following signs within 1 week to 3 months: 

Fever, chills, fatigue, headaches, muscle pain and/or joint aches.

Lyme disease, Southern tick-associated rash illness (STARI), Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF), ehrlichiosis, and tularemia can cause distinctive rashes.

• A Bullseye rash is an early sign of Lyme disease but present in less than 50% of cases of infection. A classic, circular, or oval red rash that expands outward. 
• Diseases like Rocky Mountain spotted fever can cause distinct, non-blanching rashes.

Swollen lymph nodes. 

Localized ulcers. 

Treat your clothes and skin with insect repellent – products containing DEET are the most effective.

Wear light coloured clothing - this will not prevent ticks but does make them easier to see and remove before attachment.

Wear long sleeves and tuck your trousers into your socks. 

Avoid long grass and stay on clear/established paths where possible.

Check your skin, clothing and pets after being outdoors.

Shower within two hours of being outside.  This will not remove an attached tick but can wash away any unattached ticks.

Washing your clothes will not kill ticks, however, placing them in the tumble dryer on high heat for at least 15 minutes will.