UK tick-borne disease risk is widening for pets and people

Ticks and tick-borne disease risk is shifting in the UK, with implications that go well beyond seasonal Lyme disease messaging. Recent UK surveillance and expert guidance point to a broader pattern: the main Lyme vector, Ixodes ricinus, is being reported across more areas, Lyme disease remains the most common vector-borne infection in England, and veterinary experts are also warning about canine babesiosis in dogs without travel history, especially where Dermacentor reticulatus is established. UKHSA’s latest annual data recorded 1,581 laboratory-confirmed Lyme disease cases in England in 2024, while newer surveillance work has mapped expanding tick exposure and updated local risk patterns. ESCCAP UK & Ireland’s current guidance also emphasizes that ticks in the UK can carry multiple pathogens, including Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and Babesia species. (gov.uk)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the change is practical, not just theoretical. Dogs may now face meaningful tick exposure in suburban gardens, parks, and UK travel destinations, not only on rural walks or overseas trips. That raises the stakes for routine prevention, faster recognition of compatible signs, and clearer conversations with pet parents about zoonotic risk. The babesiosis signal is especially important because APHA guidance notes that Babesia canis has been identified in untraveled dogs in Essex and that ongoing cases without travel history have continued to occur; diagnosis may rely on smear review plus PCR, and imidocarb dipropionate remains an important treatment option, though it is not licensed for this use in UK dogs. The wider One Health point is that repeated tick exposure is becoming part of everyday outdoor life for some people too: in a recent US farmworker study cited by Binghamton University, participants reported an average of three tick encounters over six months, with some reporting as many as 70, underscoring how quickly routine exposure can add up in high-risk settings. (gov.uk)

What to watch: Expect continued focus on local tick surveillance, climate-linked range changes, and more targeted prevention advice as UKHSA and veterinary groups refine regional risk maps and messaging. The occupational-health side of the story is also worth watching, as newer research is starting to show how heavy, repeated tick exposure can affect outdoor workers and shape prevention behavior. (researchportal.ukhsa.gov.uk)