We have had the first report of a tick infection. This was by Pat Teakle, who found it on his arm after wandering around on the West slope looking for a lost glider on Sunday 23rd April.

Ticks can cause Lyme disease,  this is an infection with a bacterium called Borrelia. Symptoms of Lyme disease are: a typical rash called erythema migrans and flu-like symptoms like tiredness, general aches and pains, headache, fever, chills and neck stiffness.

It is advisable to check all over your body after visiting the countryside, especially all those little nooks and crannies in the skin where they can hide away, it may well need the attention of another person to assist in the search.

Be aware that some people recommend unwise removal methods. For example: fire/heat, Vaseline, petrol and alcohol. These techniques may actually ease removal of the tick, but the problem is that the tick, in its distress, may vomit back into the bloodstream of its host thus increasing the risk of a nasty infection. The only recommended way is to pull it out with tweezers, thread or a special tick removal tool. An example of a special tool is the O’Tom Tick Twister.
 
For further reading and advice see:

NHS: Lyme Desease

Lyme Desease Action (LDA) website

And now the Wood Tick Song.