Forum Topic

Tick warning

“Ticks are out there,” says Arlene Brailey, of the Lyme Resource Centre. “The population of ticks is increasing. We need to be aware of them and we need to know how to protect ourselves. It’s not just hikers who are at risk. It’s any of us that use city parks, country parks, any long grass anywhere. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/apr/07/id-never-been-bitten-by-a-tick-before-why-the-little-blood-sucking-pest-is-getting-us-into-a-panic

Les Wilson ● 324d1 Comments

Ticks are now endemic in London and Lyme disease can be very serious. They are a problem for dogs too. I always carry tick hooks when I am out as removing them correctly is important. Never use flames or alcohol or pull them out. This can cause them either to break, leaving body parts behind which can then get infected  and/or vomit into the wound which can them transmit infection. It can take a while for ticks to feed so removing them as soon as possible is important so there is no chance that they can transmit disease. Dogs should be checked after walks, especially in areas such as Richmond Park. Deer are an intermediate vector for ticks.

Charlotte Kasner ● 323d