Tick Bite Prevention Week

[samaddie]

It’s that time of year again folks! Ticks will soon be active so read on to find out how to stay protected!

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.


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.


Tick Bite Prevention Week, supported by Mosi-guard Natural™, 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.
Don't panic but be 'Tick Aware'!

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.


The great outdoors is there to be enjoyed, so make sure you visit http://www.tickbitepreventionweek.org/ for lots of useful information and advice.

[alexsbruce]

If you live and/or work in Scotland, leading Scottish life sciences company Xeroshield is looking for your help with the completion of a major new study about ticks and Lyme disease.

The study has been backed by BADA-UK, the charity behind Tick Bite Prevention Week.

Members of the public are being encouraged to take five minutes to complete a short online survey asking them some straightforward questions about their own experience of ticks and Lyme disease in Scotland.

Lyme borreliosis is a tick-borne illness which, without prompt treatment, can cause debilitating long-term human health problems including nervous damage and psychological alterations. Ticks are prevalent in Scotland and most commonly found in wooded or bushy areas or amongst heather and bracken. They attach themselves to the skin of a host and feed on its blood. Ticks infected with Lyme borreliosis can transmit the disease to their host during the feeding process.

Xeroshield is keen to hear from people who spend lengthy periods of time outdoors for work or leisure and are therefore at higher risk of exposure to tick bites and Lyme disease. Clearly, cyclists would fall within one of these higher risk categories.

The company is exploring the development of an innovative device for the removal of 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 current study, funded by the UK technology strategy board, is designed to assess the potential market for such a product and service. But it is also expected to generate useful data about general awareness of ticks and Lyme disease in Scotland.

Over the coming months, Xeroshield also plans to undertake more detailed interviews and focus groups and would be particularly interested to hear from anyone willing to participate in this more detailed survey work later this year.

To find out more about this project and to complete the ticks and Lyme disease survey online, please visit: xerolyme.wordpress.com.

[samaddie]

If you live and/or work in Scotland, leading Scottish life sciences company Xeroshield is looking for your help with the completion of a major new study about ticks and Lyme disease.

The study has been backed by BADA-UK, the charity behind Tick Bite Prevention Week.

Members of the public are being encouraged to take five minutes to complete a short online survey asking them some straightforward questions about their own experience of ticks and Lyme disease in Scotland.

Lyme borreliosis is a tick-borne illness which, without prompt treatment, can cause debilitating long-term human health problems including nervous damage and psychological alterations. Ticks are prevalent in Scotland and most commonly found in wooded or bushy areas or amongst heather and bracken. They attach themselves to the skin of a host and feed on its blood. Ticks infected with Lyme borreliosis can transmit the disease to their host during the feeding process.

Xeroshield is keen to hear from people who spend lengthy periods of time outdoors for work or leisure and are therefore at higher risk of exposure to tick bites and Lyme disease. Clearly, cyclists would fall within one of these higher risk categories.

The company is exploring the development of an innovative device for the removal of 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 current study, funded by the UK technology strategy board, is designed to assess the potential market for such a product and service. But it is also expected to generate useful data about general awareness of ticks and Lyme disease in Scotland.

Over the coming months, Xeroshield also plans to undertake more detailed interviews and focus groups and would be particularly interested to hear from anyone willing to participate in this more detailed survey work later this year.

To find out more about this project and to complete the ticks and Lyme disease survey online, please visit: xerolyme.wordpress.com.

BADA-UK are supporting this project. Due to lack of funding and man power we can't collate data on a grand scale, although in the past we have done our own research which we have shared with universitys....so this study will produce very valuable data for us too. Please take a few minutes to fill in the survey, your information could be vital.

We are also on Day 3 of Tick Bite Prevention Week, so please share our website will any people you feel could benefit from the information available on it. Or if you have any questions please feel free to ask. I will answer them as quickly as I can.