Lyme disease cases have been recorded in the south west

Cases have been recorded in the south west and a map shows how many cases were recorded in the years between 2019 and 2022.

The map was made by Newsquest and uses ONS data.

In 2019, there were 202 Lyme disease cases recorded in the south west, a number which decreased by just one in 2020 with 201 cases recorded that year.

When measured again in 2021 though, numbers decreased to 188 before rising to 213 in 2022.

What is Lyme disease?

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that infested ticks can spread to humans, according to the NHS website.

Symptoms of the rare disease can include a circular or oval-shaped rash that forms around a tick bite which can be an early sign of the infection.

You can find out more about Lyme disease and its symptoms via our explainer here.

💚 Always Check For Ticks 💚

If you've spent time outdoors, even in your back garden, always make sure to check yourself for ticks.

🕷️ But where do they hide?

Here's our handy guide to checking yourself for hidden ticks.#LymeDiseaseUK #LymeDisease pic.twitter.com/B2hMvbFcVw

— Lyme Disease UK (@UKLyme) June 25, 2023

When should you see a GP?

The NHS says you should see a GP if you’ve been bitten by a tick or if, in the last 3 months, you’ve visited an area where infected ticks could be and if you have flu-like symptoms or feel sick or an oval or round shape rash has appeared on your body.

You should tell your GP if you have been in forests or grassy areas recently.

For more information about Lyme disease, you can visit the NHS website.