Posted By Seamus O Sullivan Anyone ever heard of Lyme disease ? I am interested in finding out the level of knowledge out there among the safety professionals. does anyone here have experience of it, does anyone know anyone who got it at work, etc. Regards Seamus

Posted By Bob Y I live and work in Norfolk and Lymes is alive, well and kicking in the Thetford Forest area. WE provide information to our outside workers such as Rangers etc but we have never had a case reported. There is quite a lot of info on www, but I have found the following helpful http://www.arun.gov.uk/c.../buildpage.pl?mysql=2289

Posted By Haggis JM Only too aware of it as a hillwalker! Used to be confined to the west coast but now finding them in Aberdeenshire - one of the dogs had one yesterday...

Posted By Matt Hilton Been there and got the T-Shirt! I got it probably 12 years ago when I used to be a Scout leader. We had just done a weeks camping in a remote part of the Lake District when I found a tick on my ankle, removed it and thought nothing of it. What followed was 3 months of trips to the Docs trying to get it diagnosed before a chance encounter with an ex - gamekeeper who took one look at the big red ring completely surrounding my ankle and said I needed to be tested immediately for Lymes disease. Strong antibiotics and more blood tests confirmed Lymes and finaly the all clear. The red mark on the ankle lasted nearly 2 years before it faded! Most doctors in towns and cities will never see a case (my GP got all the other GPs in the building into the consulting room to look at the distinctive marks when it was diagnosed) so information to your employees is a must. Someone mentioned feeling lethargic etc, in my case I didnt feel unwell at all just a mark on the skin. Matt

Posted By Kenneth Patrick How many CPD points do you think one can claim for now being fully up to date with Lymes disease and sheep traversing cattle grids due to the excellent responses to Seamus's posts?

Posted By Bob Y Yes it has been an interesting thread, and especially interesting to hear from someone that has actually had it. I used to holiday in the USA quite a bit years ago, and pocket cards were available at many of the National Parks. I think time for me to do a little reminder to our rangers etc.

Posted By Dave Dowan Hi Go to http://www.hpa.org.uk/ and type Lyme into the search criteria Regards Dave

Posted By water67. Hi, sorry sent last post to early!!! It is carried by "ticks" from farm live stock that become deposited on the grass.. anyone walking through can pick them up on skin.. usually legs. They are difficult to detach as they bury themselves into the skin.. usually a pair of tweezers are required and must ensure you get the head out. They are fairly small and thus wouldn't be noticed if you didn't look for them. wearing shorts going through grass in areas occupied by livestock is particularly hazardous. It is a particular problem for people like myself who hill walk in Scotland.. I never wear shorts. But i would stress that it is an irregular rather than regular occurrence with walkers etc. But if undetected/treated can lead to serve health probs and in some instances can cause a fatality. That's as much as i know..got to say mostly information from more experienced co- hill walkers. My bottom line advice if you notice them..can't get them out go to A&E at you local hospital Hope this helps, gives you a starting point.

Posted By Seamus O Sullivan Hi LMR. I am very sorry to hear about your daughter. She will be ok, the medical people will sort it out, and it is good that she was detected early, apparently it often goes undetected for years. Seamus

Posted By Graham Bullough The Deer Commission for Scotland have a useful section about Lyme Disease on their website at http://www.bestpracticeg.../people_lymeDisease.aspx Though I know of at least one scientist who apparently contracted the disease some years ago during field work in Scotland, my impression from talking to others is that they are pretty clued up nowadays about precautions. This includes being vigilant for ticks and being aware that any flu-like illness they develop could be Lyme Disease and should be checked out. In this latter respect, the same advice applies to Leptospirosis (alias Weil's Disease). Apparently most GPs do not think of occupational/recreational causes like Lyme Disease or Leptospirosis when faced with patients with flu-like symptoms. Though I enjoy mountain and moorland walking I echo the advice given by at least one previous responder against wearing shorts in summer in areas where ticks are likely. Another reason why I prefer long lightweight trousers is to avoid sunburn. No matter how often or how much suncream I used to apply, the backs of my legs seemed especially vulnerable to sunburn, so for many years I've worn longs instead of shorts.

Posted By Pete48 I thought one or two might be interested to see the little blighters that carry Lymes disease! http://www.microscopy-uk...mag/artjun01/tick3d.html There is a lot of info on the various NHS sites about Lymes if you want to research any further. Just a couple of other things to add. Not all ticks carry the disease. There is increasing anecdotal evidence that numbers are increasing where they already exist in the UK. For those of us who live in areas where they are prevalent, they are a fact of everyday life. Following good preventive measures, recognising them when they attach themselves to you and what to do next is the way we live. There is no point to me worrying about getting Lymes anymore than worrying about getting run down by a bus. Of course those that work in such environments are given guidance and good practice to follow but.. if you are on that tick list......