Lyme disease is on the rise this year, leading to fears that cases could mount ahead of warmer weather.
The disease is typically caused by tick bites and is more common amongst people who spend a greater deal of time outdoors. Evidence suggests that the longer a tick is attached to the skin, the greater the chance of infection.
The illness is relatively rare, with exact figures hard to determine. The HSE estimates that roughly between 50 and 100 people develop the bacterial infection each year.
