Lyme disease
Lyme disease is an infection you can get from the bite of an infected tick. The bacteria that cause this disease are called Borrelia burgdorferi. About one in five ticks carry these bacteria. If such a tick bites you, the bacteria can be transmitted. Every year, many people in the Netherlands get a tick bite, and some of them develop Lyme disease.
Where does Lyme disease occur?
Ticks mainly live in natural areas such as forests, dunes, meadows and parks, but they can also be found in gardens. You can get Lyme disease in large parts of Europe, Asia, North Africa and North America.What are the symptoms of Lyme disease?
Within three months of a tick bite, you may notice the following symptoms:- A round or ring-shaped red rash around the bite
- Muscle and joint pain
- Fever
How do you prevent Lyme disease?
There is no vaccine against Lyme disease. Prevention is therefore the best advice:- Wearing protective clothing when spending time outdoors
- Using insect repellent
- Checking your skin carefully for ticks after being outside
- Removing a tick as soon as possible using a tick remover or tick card
If you do get bit by a tick, remove it as soon as possible with tick tweezers or a tick card. Monitor the bite site for at least 3 months. If the tick has been attached to your skin for 24 hours or longer, or if you develop a fever in the weeks following the tick bite, contact your GP. In some cases, antibiotics may be useful to prevent Lyme disease. The earlier you act, the greater the chance of successful recovery.
More information
Would you like more information about ticks or Lyme disease? Visit RIVM or LCR.