Surfbirds News

The 'Tick Alert' campaign is warning about Tick Borne Encephalitis (TBE), a viral disease contracted via the bite of an infected tick. It can lead to meningitis and in serious cases result in paralysis and death, with about one in 30 cases proving fatal.

The warning identifies 16 European countries where the TBE infected tick population is officially endemic and therefore poses a high risk to visitors who have not been immunised or taken bite prevention precautions.

These include Estonia, which holds records for bird spotting, Poland, and its Biebrza Marshes and Hungary, with some of the finest and yet most undisturbed birdwatching in Europe today.

At-risk groups include all visitors to rural areas of endemic countries, particularly those participating in outdoor activities such as fishing, hiking and camping.

A number of measures can be taken to reduce the risk of infection: these include using an insect repellent, wearing trousers and long-sleeved clothing to cover all areas of exposed skin, regularly inspecting for tick bites and carefully removing any found. The disease can also be transmitted by the ingestion of unpasteurised milk which should be avoided.

Tick diseases are not only found abroad. Families planning camping and activity holidays in rural areas of the UK are being urged to protect themselves against home-grown tick diseases. It is estimated the number of UK cases of Lyme disease could be as high as 2,000 a year.

However, the Foreign Office advises that visitors to TBE endemic regions seek inoculation advice from their local surgery or clinic - well before travelling.

Immunisation against TBE is available from specialist travel health clinics and at GP surgeries and healthcare centres.

Further information on the endemic regions of Europe and latest advice for travellers is available at www.masta.org/tickalert.

Birdwatching in the UK may also expose the risk from ticks carrying Lyme disease. Infected ticks are found throughout the UK, in particular Exmoor, the New Forest, the South Downs, parts of Wiltshire and Berkshire, Thetford Forest, the Lake District, the Yorkshire moors and the Scottish Highlands. It is estimated the number of UK cases of Lyme disease could be as high as 2,000 a year.