by Michael Smith (Veshengro)
Just in time for tick season the Royal Forestry Society (RFS) has produced a new fact sheet designed to prevent forestry workers and members of the public visiting forests and woodlands getting Lyme disease. The move is seen as particularly important because the disease is becoming more common and the symptoms can be severe.
The disease is caused by Borrelia bacteria transferred from infected wildlife to humans, through a tick bite. In the UK the disease is usually carried by lxodes ricinus – known as the sheep, deer or woodland tick.
The disease starts as a rash, but can lead to meningitis, facial palsy, nerve damage and arthritis. It can be treated by antibiotics, but if left undiagnosed complicated treatment may be needed. In the United States fatalities have been reported resultant from Lyme Disease.
Simple measures, such as wearing appropriate clothing or cleaning boots after use, can help reduce the incidence of the disease.
RFS chief executive Dr John Jackson said: “Lyme disease is a major problem in Europe and North America. Although it is still relatively uncommon in this country, there have been 6,000 cases since 1999 and numbers are steadily increasing.”
The ticks are particularly active in late spring, early summer and autumn. Not all areas are infected, but the New Forest, South Downs, Thetford Forest, North York Moors, the Lake District and the Scottish Highlands are regarded as high risk areas.
One should, however, regardless, consider all areas as potentially dangerous as there is no guarantee, same as with the no-see-um midge, that infected insects do not colonize other areas.
The Ticks and Lyme Disease factsheet can be downloaded from the RFS website www.rfs.org.
© 2010
