May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month and experts are urging people to stay safe this spring as the once-rare disease is on the rise in the UK. The latest figures show that Somerset has more cases of Lyme disease than anywhere else in England, and you can use our interactive map below to see how common it is on your area.
Lyme disease is an infection caused by a spiral-shaped bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi. The infection is predominantly spread to humans through the bite of an infected tick. Sometimes ticks can transmit multiple infections through a single bite, and these can cause more severe symptoms.
Ticks have been found across every county of the UK and are mainly found in grassy areas and woodland, but have also been found in urban parks and gardens. It is estimated that around 10 per cent of ticks in the UK carry Lyme disease.
