Tick-borne encephalitis & Lyme Disease

[Stalker62]

In today's news.

I
Ticks can carry a range of diseases, including tick-borne encephalitis and Lyme disease


A virus carried by ticks, which is common in many parts of the world, is now present in the UK and health officials are reminding the public how to avoid bites from the tiny bugs.
They say the risk of tick-borne encephalitis is very low - only one person is confirmed to have been infected in England so far, last year.
But the tick species which carries the virus is widespread in the UK.
Most people do not develop symptoms but swelling to the brain is possible.
The UK Health Security Agency has recommended changes to testing in hospital so that any new cases can be picked up quickly.
Enhanced surveillance for the virus is now being carried out in England and Scotland, where there is one probable case of tick-borne encephalitis.
Health officials are also testing for the presence of the virus in blood samples of people with no symptoms in parts of Yorkshire, where the confirmed case was infected.

 

[estokes10]

I’ve just read this on the bbc link below

Rare tick disease found in England, health officials say Rare tick disease found in England, health officials say

 

[deerstalker.308]

Just before covid broke a whole load of FE staff in east anglia were being tested by public health England, along with samples of ticks from deer carcasses etc. as it had been found locally. Sadly the pandemic came along and so far there has been no follow up to the samples that were taken (mine included), so this has been rumbling for a number of years, about time it got back in the spotlight though!

 

[wytonpjs]

Unlike Lyme disease (although research work on a vaccine is in advanced testing), you can be vaccinated now against TBE as it’s so widespread in Europe. It requires 3 jabs over a period of time but is a one-off course of vaccination. If memory serves me right, it cost me £60 at Superdrug but this was before COVID.

 

[yorkdeer246]

I have been vaccinated for European TBE. Before Ukraine travelled a lot in the Baltic with work and the vaccine was offered to us. As said above three dose course and was no where near as bad as covid jabs. There is also an Asian variant of TBE as well but don’t know what the differences are.

 

[sikamalc]

My assistant, who stalks over all my ground with my clients, has gone down with Lyme. Bloody doctor was not on the ball. However my assistant is now on antibiotics for 25 days and hopefully will be ok. He has had it since October.

 

[Jon P]

Thankfully my local doctors will listen to you if you have a reaction to a tick bite, I have had long courses of antibiotics from them a few times. Last time was for African Tick Bite Fever .

 

[Stalker62]

My assistant, who stalks over all my ground with my clients, has gone down with Lyme. Bloody doctor was not on the ball.

It is then, perhaps incumbent on Stalkers to arm themselves, with the knowledge of the infections and diseases that they may be prone to, and apprise their GP when they present, should that need arise.

 

[HonestJohn]

My assistant, who stalks over all my ground with my clients, has gone down with Lyme. Bloody doctor was not on the ball. However my assistant is now on antibiotics for 25 days and hopefully will be ok. He has had it since October.

little too late for the antibiotics to really work. @Heym SR20 I think went a few rounds with Mr Lyme

I also agree that if you get tick bites regularly through your activities, checking and monitoring yourself and bites, etc. should be par for the course. If GP's had to do Lymes tests for every red and swollen tick bite, well, that would probably eat up half of the NHS budget, and the 'powers' would require all UK deer exterminated to avoid stalkers eating NHS funds from tick bites

 

[wytonpjs]

Just before covid broke a whole load of FE staff in east anglia were being tested by public health England, along with samples of ticks from deer carcasses etc. as it had been found locally. Sadly the pandemic came along and so far there has been no follow up to the samples that were taken (mine included), so this has been rumbling for a number of years, about time it got back in the spotlight though!

One of my samples for Mayo Hardings PHE study came back borderline positive for TBE in Wiltshire! Hotspots were New Forest and Thetford (probably brought over my migratory birds carrying ticks from Europe). Sadly, COVID seems to have brought a halt to Mayo’s research and I’ve heard nothing further for a long time about her findings. More worrying for me however is the increasing spread of the “Vegan’s Revenge” or Alpha-Gal Syndrome:

Alpha-gal Allergy/Syndrome

I recently saw a post up on UK Deer Stalking forum of another tick-borne infection with dramatic consequences. Like Lyme Disease, it appears that it has taken some time for this new disease to be recognised and classified. Whilst this sounds potentially like an April Fool's joke and...

www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk

 

[sikamalc]

little too late for the antibiotics to really work. @Heym SR20 I think went a few rounds with Mr Lyme

I also agree that if you get tick bites regularly through your activities, checking and monitoring yourself and bites, etc. should be par for the course. If GP's had to do Lymes tests for every red and swollen tick bite, well, that would probably eat up half of the NHS budget, and the 'powers' would require all UK deer exterminated to avoid stalkers eating NHS funds from tick bites

Well they are working, just spoke to him. I have also had Lymes, about 15 years back.

 

[HonestJohn]

Well they are working, just spoke to him. I have also had Lymes, about 15 years back.

hope it helps and he recovers, it can be a long hard road for many. at least he survived, not all are that lucky

 

[Adam Riding]

Hi all, saw this too which is alarming as the deer I just shot in Cumbria was infested with ticks and everyone who got near to the carcass had them on them.

What I'd like to know is if there's a repellent that deer can't smell / don't mind?

Having them smell me in my normal gear is bad enough but a whiff of DEET makes even me run a mile.

 

[Freeforester]

Permethrin is your friend, to ticks - not so much.

 

[Tim.243]

Just before covid broke a whole load of FE staff in east anglia were being tested by public health England, along with samples of ticks from deer carcasses etc. as it had been found locally. Sadly the pandemic came along and so far there has been no follow up to the samples that were taken (mine included), so this has been rumbling for a number of years, about time it got back in the spotlight though!

No one was brave enough to test the one you handed in considering where you said it was attached......

 

[T.eddie]

I was bitten by a tick for the first time last year, got it off in quick order and the next day went to the doctors and asked for a blood test to confirm all okay, they jaunt done it before but were happy to give it a go

 

[FISH BOY]

My assistant, who stalks over all my ground with my clients, has gone down with Lyme. Bloody doctor was not on the ball. However my assistant is now on antibiotics for 25 days and hopefully will be ok. He has had it since October.

Can I ask where he got tagged?

Hope he’s on the mend.

 

[jall55]

hope it helps and he recovers, it can be a long hard road for many. at least he survived, not all are that lucky

Its a horrible thing to get but chance of actually getting it and then dying must be similar to the deer not been dead and getting you

 

[Adam Riding]

With warmer winters, the chances of catching these illnesses will only increase - a freind in Germany said antibiotics after a tick bite is standard practice for some Dr's.
Education for people in the UK is needed for sure as I was totally unaware of the diseases ticks could pass on until I had three latched on to me last week. I now know thr danger sings to look out for thanks to a well timed news article, otherwise I'd be sat here oblivious!

 

[Stalker62]

Can I ask where he got tagged?