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Tick bites are on the rise around the world
PRINT ALL READINGS (PDF)Tick Bites - Level 4
Doctors are worried about the increase of ticks. These are blood-sucking bugs that carry germs. Their bites can pass on serious health problems like Lyme disease. Cases of Lyme disease in the UK rose 20 per cent between 2024 and 2025. A disease control centre has reported a huge rise in ticks. It said thirty-one million Americans get bitten annually. A biology professor said tick populations were increasing because of the changing climate.
Ticks are related to spiders. They have eight legs. After they fill themselves with blood, their bodies balloon. They can be the size of an apple seed. They get on humans and sink their mouthparts into our skin. Their saliva contains an anaesthetic. This numbs the bite area. People rarely feel anything. The ticks can drink a victim's blood for days. To avoid ticks, people should use insect repellent and wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants and closed shoes.
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Tick Bites - Level 5
Doctors are worrying about the increasing prevalence of ticks. These are blood-sucking bugs that carry germs from one host to another. Their bites can pass on serious health problems like Lyme disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported a dramatic rise in tick activity. It said thirty-one million Americans get tick bites annually. Biology professor Vett Lloyd said: "Tick populations are expanding geographically because we're changing the climate." A UK newspaper reported that cases of Lyme disease rose over 20 per cent between 2024 and 2025.
Ticks are related to spiders. They have oval bodies and eight legs. After they fill themselves with blood, their bodies balloon. They range in size and can be the size of an apple seed. They latch on to animals and humans by sinking their mouthparts into the skin. Their mouthparts pierce the skin. Their saliva contains an anaesthetic and numbs the bite area. People rarely feel anything. The ticks can drink a victim's blood for days. The CDC offers advice for avoiding tick bites. This includes wearing insect repellent and wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants and closed shoes.
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Tick Bites - Level 6
Doctors worldwide are becoming concerned about the increasing prevalence of ticks. These are tiny, blood-sucking bugs that carry germs from one host to another. Their bites can pass on serious health problems like Lyme disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the USA has reported a dramatic upswing in tick activity. It said thirty-one million Americans are bitten by ticks annually, and that the number of cases is increasing year by year. Biology professor Vett Lloyd said: "Tick populations are expanding geographically because we're changing the climate." The UK's 'Guardian' newspaper reported that cases of Lyme disease rose over 20 per cent between 2024 and 2025.
Ticks are arachnids — they are related to spiders. They have oval, flat bodies and eight legs. After they fill themselves with blood, their bodies become spherical. They range in size from the size of a poppy seed to an apple seed. They latch on to animals and humans by sinking their mouthparts into the skin of their victims. Their mouthparts pierce the skin and drink blood for days. Their saliva contains a mild anaesthetic. This numbs the bite area, so people often do not feel anything. The CDC offers advice for avoiding tick bites. It recommends wearing insect repellents that contain the ingredient DEET. It also advises wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants and closed shoes.
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