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Can Lyme disease spread from person to person?
Ordinary contact such as touching, kissing or sharing food does not spread Lyme disease. It is acquired primarily through the bite of an infected tick.
Reviewed by VuxLore® Knowledge Team For Everyone
Short answer
At a glance
Key takeaways
The tick is the important link
Lyme disease is caused by Borrelia bacteria transmitted by certain infected ticks. It is not passed between people through everyday social contact.
Use precise language
Pregnancy, blood donation and other special circumstances should be discussed with an appropriate clinician, but they do not change the basic public-health message about casual contact.
Sources and further reading
UK Lyme disease guidance and data
For current UK clinical advice, public-health guidance and surveillance data, consult these primary national sources.