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Urgent Action Required As Risk of Lyme Disease Quadruples: Media Vet Emma Milne Advises

The risk of a disease which can cause depression, impaired memory and chronic joint pain has risen drastically in the last century – and the biggest threat of catching it is from your dog.
Lifestyle - 6 February 2012   Download IconContent available for download:  
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  News Hooks:

A fourfold increase in the prevalence of Lyme disease has sparked serious calls for action – targeted specifically at pet owners. The number of reported cases has risen from just 300 at the start of the century to almost 1000 annual cases. This, coupled with new research by The University of Bristol confirming that the prevalence of ticks infected with the bacteria that causes the virus is much higher than expected, are both evidence that the risk of the disease is drastically increasing.

Lyme disease - which causes chronic joint pain, depression and even impaired memory - is transmitted to humans by infected ticks found on some of the 8 million dogs kept as pets in the UK. And with new pet passport laws having come into effect last month, an increase in the number of foreign ticks entering the country is a huge threat.

The rapidly growing problem has been deemed a significant health risk - with worries that the number of actual cases is much higher than those that are reported. The prospect of even more incidences this year has been amplified further given the Pet Travel Scheme changes which took place this January and pet owners are being urged to be more vigilant and seek advice from their local vet.

. Introduction:

With research confirming the number of Lyme disease cases drastically increasing over the last century and the risk of infected ticks revealed to be much higher than expected– calls for pet owners to take action have been raised. New pet passport laws introduced last month have also increased fears that foreign ticks will infiltrate this country and spread the disease on untreated dogs over here.

So why is the number of reported cases growing and what impact are the new pet passport laws likely to have on this?

Joining us to discuss this further is Christina Tellefsen a Veterinary Technical Adviser and TV Vet, Emma Milne who is passionate about our nation’s pets and has presented numerous animal programmes, winning the coveted “Best Documentary Award” for ‘Vets in Practice’.

. Suggested Questions:

What does research reveal about the prevalence of Lyme disease in our area?

Why has the risk of Lyme disease carried in ticks increased over the past few years?

How have the pet passport laws changed and what impact will this have on the prevalence of ticks in the UK?

What are the symptoms and dangers of Lyme disease?

What advice do you have for pet owners who are concerned about protecting their animal?

Where can our listeners go for more information?