What should i do if i get a tick bite?

• If you get a tick bite, don’t panic. Tick bites are common, especially in southern Norway.
• Remove the tick as quickly as possible. If it is removed within 24 hours, the risk of developing borreliosis (Lyme disease) is very low.
• TBE (Tick-borne encephalitis) is different, as this virus can be transmitted shortly after a tick bite. Removing the tick quickly doesn’t prevent TBE, but there’s an effective vaccine available for prevention.
• To remove a tick, use tweezers, a tick removal tool, or your fingernails. Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull it straight out.
• Do not worry if the tick’s mouthparts remain in the skin (seen as a black spot). This does not increase the risk of tick-borne infections.
• Some people lubricate the tick with butter, petroleum jelly or alcohol in an attempt to remove the tick. We do NOT recommend this.
• Contact a doctor if you experience any symptoms that can be related to the tick bite.