Ferocious winter floods have left Britain facing a fresh menace after scientists warned the country faces a mass-infestation – of TICKS
Boffins say the mild, damp conditions have provided the perfect breeding ground for the blood-sucking parasites.
As the weather warms up the UK could be overwhelmed by the tiny creatures, putting pets at risk and spreading deadly bugs like Lyme Disease.
The grim warning was delivered by Richard Wall, Professor of Zoology at Bristol University, who estimates as many as 20 ticks may be lurking in each square metre of British woodland.
The tiny arachnids live off the blood of birds and mammals and tend to flourish more in countries with warm, humid climates.
But Prof Wall says the number of ticks has soared in Britain over the last two decades because of our warmer winters and wetter summers.
Prof Wall, who heads Europe’s leading centre for research into veterinary ectoparasites, said: “Ticks are most commonly found in woodland and long grass areas that are regularly used by dog walkers.
“Climate change has certainly be blamed for the increase as the warmer and damper weather provides a good environment for ticks.
“Another reason for the rise is the increase in deer as ticks feed on deer.
“They pose a considerable threat as they pass on many diseases, such as babesiosis in dogs and Lyme disease in humans.”
Prof Wall said the tick problem could become so bad that the creatures will migrate to parks and urban spaces, infesting towns and cities.
He urged pet owners to check their cats and dogs for fleas and ticks to ensure their animals were free of the parasites.
Ticks can spread a terrifying array of diseases, including the bacterial infection Lyme Disease which can be fatal to both humans and dogs.
Some of the rarer illnesses passed on by the insects include Q fever, Colorado tick fever, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, African tick bite fever, tularemia, tick-borne relapsing fever, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, tick paralysis, and tick-borne meningoencephalitis.
Prof Wall said: “It’s important people check both their dog and themselves after a walk.
“Ticks are often found tucked up in creases of the body, so the arm pits or behind the ears.
“The best way to remove them is to use tweezers and put them close to the skin and press and twist them out.
“If people are struggling to remove the tick they should take their pet to the vets right away.”
Prof Wall and fellow experts, Paul Sands, a specialist veterinary dermatologist from the Pride Veterinary Hospital in Derbyshire, and veterinary advisor Renata Turlej, will host a live broadcast tonight (thurs) with staff and pets from Bristol’s Highcroft Veterinary Practice.
The team will be demonstrating how to check for ticks and telling pet owners what they can do to combat the problem.
The show marks the launch of MyPetonline’s Big Flea Guarantee, a campaign set to run this summer with vet practices across the country offering free flea and tick checks and advice.
The broadcast begins at 8:30pm and can be viewed by visiting www.mypetonline.co.uk , where pet owners can also download a voucher for a free flea check.
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Britain is for some reason ignoring the presence of Lyme in the country. It thinks that this disease is rare and only caught by a few, which are cured with 2 weeks antibiotics. If they want an education as to the REAL Lyme epidemic, they should talk to the LLMDs in the USA. This month is about raising awareness and getting more support, a patient shouldn’t have to educate it’s own doctor!