Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Dublin Live
Dublin Live
National
Amy Donohoe

HSE warning over disease-spreading tick ahead of warm weather

The HSE have issued a warning over disease-spreading ticks ahead of the warm weather.

Lyme disease is normally caught outdoors and can be spread from infected ticks to humans.

The bacterial infection spread by ticks can cause heart and nerve problems.

Read more: Met Eireann weather forecast heavy rain for Dublin before the mercury soars on Bank Holiday Weekend

Ticks that may cause Lyme disease can be found all over the country, with grassy and wooded spots being particularly high risk.

Most people with early symptoms of Lyme disease develop a circular red skin rash around a tick bite.

The rash can take up to three months to appear but most rashes will appear within the first month.

The rash can look like a bull's-eye on a dartboard. The skin will be red and the edges may feel slightly raised.

Lyme disease (HSE)

Not everyone with Lyme disease gets the rash, some people will flu-like symptoms like:

  • a high temperature, or feeling hot and shivery

  • headaches

  • muscle and joint pain

  • tiredness and loss of energy

But thankfully Lyme disease is easy to treat if it’s diagnosed early with the help of antibiotics.

You can prevent getting ticks by:

  • Covering your skin while walking outdoors
  • Tucking your trousers into your socks
  • Using insect repellent
  • Sticking to paths
  • Wearing light-coloured clothing so ticks are easier to spot and brush off

To remove a tick:

  1. Use fine-tipped tweezers or a tick-removal tool

  2. Pull the tick as close to the skin as possible

  3. Slowly pull upwards without squeezing the tick

  4. Clean the bite with antiseptic or soap and water

Read more: Room to Improve star Dermot Bannon pays tribute to 'kind' show's carpenter

Read more: Monkeypox cases in Ireland double days after first case confirmed

Sign up to the Dublin Live Newsletter to get all the latest Dublin news straight to your inbox.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.