Notice from Croydon Council, Parks and Leisure

Lyme disease – High number of ticks this season

Please take extra care this season to protect yourselves from tick bites.  Ticks can cause Lyme disease.  If detected early it can be treated effectively.

For information and symptoms please see NHS Lyme-disease advice

Lyme disease can be carried by ticks and there are a high number this season.  The alert from Croydon Council’s Parks and Leisure Department is aimed a volunteers who work regularly in local open spaces, but we should all be aware if we regularly walk dogs or spend time walking in the local countryside.

Not all ticks carry the disease, but a volunteer working on heathland recently had a tick bite and has since been referred to GP after showing symptoms suggesting Lyme disease.

If you are a regular volunteer the Council’s advice when working in woodland heath or long grass is to:

Wear closed shoes

Long trousers

Long sleeved shirts

Check for tick bites at the end of the day