Ticks!

[saddie]

[COLOR= rgb(51, 51, 51)]It's that time of year again folks! Ticks will soon be active so read on to find out how to stay protected![/COLOR] [COLOR= rgb(51, 51, 51)]Ticks can carry harmful infections that can be transmitted to humans. It is estimated that each year around 3,000 people in the UK contract Lyme disease (Borreliosis) from a tick bite.[/COLOR] [COLOR= rgb(51, 51, 51)]If you take part in outdoor activities or simply enjoy being in the countryside, or parks and gardens where wildlife is present, you may be at risk from tick bites. In fact, research from the School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, published in January 2012, suggests that the prevalence of Lyme disease bacteria in the UK tick population is considerably higher than most recent estimates indicated.[/COLOR] [COLOR= rgb(51, 51, 51)]Tick Bite Prevention Week, runs from 26 March-1 April 2012, and is an annual programme that helps promote awareness of tick-borne diseases and effective tick-bite prevention for at-risk groups, including pet owners and their animals.[/COLOR] [COLOR= rgb(51, 51, 51)]Don't panic but be 'Tick Aware'! [/COLOR] [COLOR= rgb(51, 51, 51)]Simple precautions can help to keep you safe. The campaign's Patron, Bushcraft and Survival expert Ray Mears, shares his Top Tips that can be taken to help prevent ticks from biting people and pets.[/COLOR] [COLOR= rgb(51, 51, 51)]The great outdoors is there to be enjoyed, so make sure you visit [/COLOR]http://www.tickbitepreventionweek.org[COLOR= rgb(51, 51, 51)] for lots of useful information and advice.[/COLOR]
Hi

 

[Froze]

Ohh my God, you made me panic. I've got my wife right now checking every square inch of my body for tics...ohh boy, well I gotta go, right now!

 

[saddie]

Ah but that is the only fun bit about ticks......don't freak out about them, just be aware of them, and know how to remove them safely.....if anyone has any questions please feel free to ask. I am a volunteer for BADA-UK and will answer your questions as quickly as I can, have to say keeping my eye on rather a few other forums. If there is something you need an urgent question, please contact us through our main website www.bada-uk.org we will get back to you asap.

Cheers

 

[saddie]

Xeroshield are doing a online questionnaire about ticks and Lyme disease, the information gathered from this will be shared with BADA-UK so will be of great benefit to us....if you live in Scotland and can spare a few minutes to fill it in that would be great... On the subject of ticks and Lyme disease, you may be interested to know that a leading Scottish life sciences company called Xeroshield is currently looking for members of the public who live and/or work in Scotland to take five minutes to fill out a simple online survey as part of a major new study. Xeroshield is exploring the development of a device to remove ticks from humans and pets, combined with a laboratory service for the detection of Lyme disease in ticks collected and immobilised using this device. The study is designed to assess the potential market for such a product and service. But it is also expected to generate valuable data about general awareness of ticks and Lyme disease in Scotland. The survey asks a series of very straightforward questions about people’s own experience of ticks and Lyme disease in Scotland. Xeroshield is keen to hear from anyone who spends long periods of time outdoors for work or leisure and is therefore at higher risk of being bitten by ticks. At a later stage, Xeroshield also plans to carry out more detailed interviews and focus groups and would be particularly interested to hear from anyone willing to participate in these later this year. If you live and/or work in Scotland, would like to find out more about this project, and to complete the ticks and Lyme disease survey online, please visit: xerolyme.wordpress.com