Lyme disease cases in England rise by more than 20% in a year
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said laboratory-confirmed Lyme disease cases in England reached 1,547 in 2025 — a 23% rise on 2024, and the highest figure in a decade. The bulk of cases occurred between May and September; the highest concentrations were recorded in southern England, East Anglia and the Scottish Borders.
Lyme disease is an infection caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, transmitted to humans by tick bites. Early-stage symptoms include the distinctive 'bullseye' circular rash (erythema migrans), fever and fatigue. Treatment is a 2-4 week course of antibiotics; if diagnosis is delayed, it can progress to joint pain, muscle weakness, facial palsy and neurological complications.
Dr Tim Brooks, UKHSA's vector-borne disease lead, said: 'Two components drive this rise — more people are being diagnosed, which is positive, and the real case number is also climbing. With the changing climate, Ixodes ricinus ticks are spreading to broader areas of the United Kingdom; we now encounter them in gardens, parks and the green corridors at the edges of cities.'
UKHSA data reviewed by Guardian Health shows the sharpest rise in south-west England, particularly Hampshire, Wiltshire and Devon. In these areas, the annual Lyme rate reached 12.4 per 100,000 — more than double London's level. The Scottish Highlands historically remains among the highest areas, with an annual rate of 18.7 per 100,000.
On the vaccine development front, the VLA15 vaccine developed in partnership by Pfizer and Valneva is on track to publish Phase 3 trial results in February 2026. The vaccine, included in early review by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), targets six different Borrelia strains and is theoretically administered as a three-injection series within a year. If Phase 3 succeeds, it could reach market before the 2027 tick season.
Lyme vaccine history is complicated. The LYMErix vaccine approved by the FDA in 1998 was withdrawn by its manufacturer in 2002 after weak sales and press coverage of claimed adverse events. Since then there has been no licensed Lyme vaccine for adults in the United States. The Valneva-Pfizer candidate could be the first serious one to fill that gap.
Dr Sally Cutler, a vector-disease specialist at the University of East London, told the Guardian: 'A vaccine alone will not defeat Lyme; public-health education, tick-protective clothing, the use of DEET-based repellents outdoors and tick control on pets all have a role.'
Seasonal cautions are particularly relevant now. The UKHSA advises hikers and outdoor workers to wear light-coloured long trousers and shirts, tuck socks into trousers, check their bodies carefully after returning home, and — if they find a tick — remove it with fine-tipped tweezers directly at the skin level. If a 'bullseye' rash appears after a tick bite, see a doctor as soon as possible.
Internationally, the US annual Lyme case count is estimated at around 476,000, the CDC's latest estimate. Central European countries such as Germany and the Netherlands are recording similar annual rises of 15-25%. Climate change's effect on tick-borne diseases is listed as 'medium-high priority' in the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control's (ECDC) 2025 strategic plan.
Disclaimer: This article is for information only and is not a substitute for medical advice. If you think you have Lyme disease symptoms (bullseye rash, unexplained fever, joint pain), see your family doctor. Early antibiotic treatment delivers the best outcome.