Spring ramblers get tick warning
Friday April 15th, 2011
Many of Britain's beauty spots are infested with dangerous ticks which can cause a dangerous infection, experts have warned.
As
thousands plan to spend the spring holidays walking the countryside, the
Health Protection Agency named some of the hazardous regions.
These include the Lake District, the New Forest, Exmoor, the Scottish Highlands and beauty spots throughout southern England and East Anglia.
Lyme disease is caused by ticks which pass on an infection which can cause serious disability if it is not treated.
Some 953 cases of Lyme disease were confirmed in England and Wales last year - and most occurred in the UK, according to the Health Protection Agency.
Dr Dilys Morgan, of the HPA, urged the public to take precautions against ticks, such as using insect repellents.
Walkers may need to carry tweezers to remove ticks speedily and safely.
Dr Morgan said: "Ticks that can transmit Lyme disease are very small - about the size of a poppy seed - and can easily be overlooked, so it is important to check regularly for attached ticks on the skin.
"Most ticks do not carry the infection but if one is found it should be removed promptly, as infected ticks are unlikely to transmit the organism if they are removed in the early stages of attachment.
"Ticks can be removed with tweezers or special tick hooks, pulling gently upwards away from the skin. People who develop a rash or other symptoms after a tick bite should consult their GP."
The list of affected areas includes Exmoor, the New Forest, the South Downs, parts of Wiltshire and Berkshire, Thetford Forest, the Lake District, the Yorkshire moors and the Scottish Highlands.
Tags: Traveller Health | UK News
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