UK tick risks are shifting for pets, people, and practices

The threat from ticks and tick-borne diseases is shifting in the UK, with implications for both companion animals and public health. UK government and ESCCAP UK & Ireland sources point to longer tick activity seasons, changing distribution of key species, and continued concern about pathogens beyond Lyme disease, including Babesia canis and tick-borne encephalitis virus. Ixodes ricinus, the main UK vector for Lyme disease, has expanded in number and range over time, while Dermacentor reticulatus, the vector for B. canis, has also expanded, with that spread linked to climate, land use, host availability, and animal and human movement. ESCCAP’s 2025 parasite forecast said SAVSNET data showed a prolonged tick peak from early spring to late autumn in 2024, with activity continuing into December. (gov.uk)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, this is less about a single new outbreak and more about a moving baseline of risk. Lyme disease remains the best-known tick-borne infection, and UKHSA reported 1,581 laboratory-confirmed human Lyme disease cases in 2024, while noting that confirmed counts underestimate the true burden. In dogs, babesiosis remains a key emerging concern because locally acquired UK cases have already shown that once infected tick populations are established, rapid recognition, diagnostics, treatment, and prevention messaging matter. The practical takeaway for clinics is to treat tick risk as more geographically dynamic and more seasonally extended than many pet parents may assume. (gov.uk)

What to watch: Expect continued emphasis on surveillance, seasonal forecasting, and earlier preventive conversations as UK tick distribution and disease risk keep evolving. (researchportal.ukhsa.gov.uk)