Lyme disease alert in New Forest (From This is Hampshire)

Lyme disease alert in New Forest

6:11pm Saturday 12th July 2008 in

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WALKERS and campers in the New Forest are being warned to watch out for signs of a disease that can cause blindness and paralysis.

Lyme disease is spread by ticks - tiny blood-sucking insects that are prevalent in nine parts of the UK, including the Forest. Anyone walking through bracken and long grass - or even sitting down to enjoy a picnic - is at risk of catching the disease, which is on the increase. It is particularly common in areas with large numbers of deer.

The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) is pressing the Government to tackle what it describes as a growing threat to public health.

The institute says 800 laboratory cases of Lyme disease are confirmed annually, plus up to 2,000 cases that are diagnosed and treated by family GPs.

A CIEH spokesman said: "Lyme disease is caused by infected ticks and can cause symptoms from a rash to blindness and paralysis.

"Treating the disease is often complicated by the fact that it's frequently misdiagnosed and underreported. The spread of Lyme disease in Europe and America has signalled the need to assess the potential threat to public health."

CIEH chief executive Graham Jukes said: "We strongly urge the Government to raise the profile of Lyme disease. This is a misunderstood disease that can cause untold misery to its victims."

The disease is on the increase because of the warmer, wetter summers caused by global warming. In 2006 there were 768 reported cases, compared with 292 in 2003.

People walking in country areas can guard against the threat by making sure that their arms and legs are covered at all times.

Tucking the bottoms of your trousers into your socks can significantly reduce the risk of a tick attaching itself to your leg.

A Department of Health spokesman said: "Clinicians have ready access to the best Lyme disease diagnostic tests available. Tests are freely available in the NHS.

"A short course of antibiotics is the usual treatment for Lyme disease and this is also freely available.

"It is for primary care trusts to ensure that appropriate services are in place to meet local needs."