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Originally Posted by blackdown  Does anyone know why ticks are now carrying Lyme Disease which was previously rare and scarcely heard of, and now appears to have reached epidemic proportions? |
Ticks have always carried Lyme disease, it was more a case of it being either mis-diagnosed or completely over-looked in the past, it's only recent work and publicity that has focused attention on it more.
GP's and hospitals have always been aware of Lymes disease and how to diagnose/treat it in the areas where the disease is more common.
It is far from being an epidemic though, the disease is far more common in some areas than others ie.. The New Forest, Thetford chase/forest & the Inverness area of the Scottish Highlands, areas where Deer frequent are always most at risk as the Deer tick is the main host of Lymes.
It does exist in other areas but it is far from common so people should not be put off from venturing into wild areas, just take sensible precautions when out in long grass/braken etc...
wear good sensible foot wear, long trousers
not shorts and always check yourself for ticks when you return home, they are not always easy to see and have a nasty habit of heading for some quite personal areas of the body, so remember to check yourself thoroughly.
The main thing is
not to worry, if the areas that you are visiting do not contain Deer and you take the simple precautions above then the risk of getting a tick bite and contracting Lymes is absolutely minimal.