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Ticks (Ixodes ricinus)

Last updated on Thursday, 13 August 2026 at 04:00pm

Globally, ticks are one of the most significant disease vectors. A vector is a living organism, such as ticks or mosquitoes, that can transmit infections between animal or human hosts.

Ticks can pick up pathogens while feeding on an infected animal host and subsequently transmit them to hosts they may feed on. In the UK, the most important tick species to human health is Ixodes ricinus (sheep or deer tick). This species can be found feeding on humans and is a vector of Lyme disease and other tick-borne infections.

The Tick Surveillance Scheme (TSS) was set up in 2005 to map and monitor tick distribution across the UK. Data collected from the TSS informs UKHSA’s assessments of the public health impact of ticks.

Tick samples sent to UKHSA provide valuable information on the distribution of tick species present across the UK, their seasonal activity and their host associations. This information helps to highlight which tick species are important to human and animal health.

These metrics are updated quarterly.

Overview

Records received annually

The total annual records of Ixodes ricinus ticks submitted to the Tick Surveillance Scheme per year. Data is shown by the year the tick was collected and shown as at December of each year. For example, the figures for 2022 are shown as at “Dec 2022”.

Up to and including 31 Dec 2026

ChartThere are 2 plots on this chart. The horizontal X-axis is labelled 'date'. Whilst the vertical Y-axis is labelled 'metric'. This is plot number 1 on this chart. This is a dark blue solid bar plot. The plot has a label of 'Tick record counts from January 2013 to December 2025'. This plot shows data for ticks. Specifically the metric 'ticks_counts_countByYear' for the England area, along with the age banding of 'all' for the gender group of all. This plot shows data from 31 December 2013 to 31 December 2025. It fell from 422.0 on 31 December 2013 to 405.0 on 31 December 2015. It fell from 572.0 on 31 December 2016 to 411.0 on 31 December 2017. It fell from 549.0 on 31 December 2018 to 545.0 on 31 December 2019. It rose from 505.0 on 31 December 2020 to 558.0 on 31 December 2021. It rose from 360.0 on 31 December 2022 to 504.0 on 31 December 2023. And finally. It fell from 536.0 on 31 December 2024 to 486.0 on 31 December 2025. This is plot number 2 on this chart. This is a burgundy solid bar plot. The plot has a label of 'Ticks counted January through to June 2026.'. This plot shows data for ticks. Specifically the metric 'ticks_counts_countByYear' for the England area, along with the age banding of 'all' for the gender group of all. This plot shows data from 31 December 2026 to 31 December 2026. The date fluctuates between 363.0 on 31 December 2026, ending with the same value on 31 December 2026. There is no reporting delay period being tracked for the data on this chart. - Refer to tabular data.
Tabular data

Records received annually data for the total annual records of Ixodes ricinus ticks submitted to the Tick Surveillance Scheme per year. Data is shown by the year the tick was collected and shown as at December of each year. For example, the figures for 2022 are shown as at “Dec 2022”.

Up to and including 31 Dec 2026

Year Tick record counts from January 2013 to December 2025 Ticks counted January through to June 2026.
31 Dec 2026-363.00
31 Dec 2025486.00-
31 Dec 2024536.00-
31 Dec 2023504.00-
31 Dec 2022360.00-
31 Dec 2021558.00-
31 Dec 2020505.00-
31 Dec 2019545.00-
31 Dec 2018549.00-
31 Dec 2017411.00-
31 Dec 2016572.00-
31 Dec 2015405.00-
31 Dec 2014284.00-
31 Dec 2013422.00-
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Seasonality

Monthly records versus mean trend

The total monthly records of Ixodes ricinus ticks submitted to the Tick Surveillance Scheme for the current period in comparison to the mean monthly average from the previous 10 years. Data is shown by the month the tick was collected.

Up to and including month commencing 1 Jun 2026

ChartThere are 2 plots on this chart. The horizontal X-axis is labelled 'date'. Whilst the vertical Y-axis is labelled 'metric'. This is plot number 1 on this chart. This is a dark blue solid line plot. The plot has a label of 'Monthly total records count'. This plot shows data for ticks. Specifically the metric 'ticks_counts_countByMonth' for the England area, along with the age banding of 'all' for the gender group of all. This plot shows data from 01 January 2025 to 01 June 2026. It rose from 2.0 on 01 January 2025 to 30.0 on 01 March 2025. It rose from 69.0 on 01 April 2025 to 167.0 on 01 June 2025. It fell from 51.0 on 01 July 2025 to 19.0 on 01 September 2025. It fell from 7.0 on 01 October 2025 to 3.0 on 01 December 2025. It rose from 0.0 on 01 January 2026 to 28.0 on 01 March 2026. And finally. It rose from 73.0 on 01 April 2026 to 132.0 on 01 June 2026. This is plot number 2 on this chart. This is a turquoise dash line plot. The plot has a label of 'Monthly average records count'. This plot shows data for ticks. Specifically the metric 'ticks_counts_averageByMonth' for the England area, along with the age banding of 'all' for the gender group of all. This plot shows data from 01 January 2025 to 01 June 2026. It rose from 2.0 on 01 January 2025 to 15.7 on 01 March 2025. It rose from 47.1 on 01 April 2025 to 149.6 on 01 June 2025. It fell from 80.0 on 01 July 2025 to 27.1 on 01 September 2025. It fell from 18.3 on 01 October 2025 to 2.6 on 01 December 2025. It rose from 2.0 on 01 January 2026 to 15.7 on 01 March 2026. And finally. It rose from 47.1 on 01 April 2026 to 149.6 on 01 June 2026. There is no reporting delay period being tracked for the data on this chart. - Refer to tabular data.
Tabular data

Monthly records versus mean trend data for the total monthly records of Ixodes ricinus ticks submitted to the Tick Surveillance Scheme for the current period in comparison to the mean monthly average from the previous 10 years. Data is shown by the month the tick was collected.

Up to and including month commencing 1 Jun 2026

Month Monthly total records count Monthly average records count
1 Jun 2026132.00149.60
1 May 2026128.00110.90
1 Apr 202673.0047.10
1 Mar 202628.0015.70
1 Feb 20262.004.50
1 Jan 20260.002.00
1 Dec 20253.002.60
1 Nov 20253.007.90
1 Oct 20257.0018.30
1 Sep 202519.0027.10
1 Aug 202521.0036.90
1 Jul 202551.0080.00
1 Jun 2025167.00149.60
1 May 2025113.00110.90
1 Apr 202569.0047.10
1 Mar 202530.0015.70
1 Feb 20251.004.50
1 Jan 20252.002.00
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Related content

Learn more about UKHSA data dashboard topics

  • Tick Surveillance Scheme (report a tick) - GOV.UK

    UKHSA’s Tick Surveillance Scheme helps to map and monitor tick distribution and associated risk of exposure to ticks in the UK.

  • Ticks - GOV.UK

    This collection contains information about ticks and what UKHSA’s Medical Entomology and Zoonoses Ecology team does to monitor ticks and pathogens associated with tick-borne illnesses in the UK.

  • Tick Surveillance Data Quality and Methodology Information

    The latest quarterly report published on 25 June 2025 summarises quality and methodology information about the tick surveillance data published on the UKHSA Data Dashboard.