Latest News

28.11.08 - Open verdict on man with Lyme disease who set himself alight.

A father of four who set himself alight in his back garden had been suffering from severe ill-health in the weeks leading up his death.

Michael Newman had been frequently confused after being infected with Lyme Disease three years earlier, his inquest heard on Wednesday this week.

Surrey Coroner's Court heard he also became intolerant to loud noise and sound, worsened by resurfacing work carried out near his home in Normandy.

Mr Newman,75, left the marital bed in the early hours of July 31 this year and walked to the end of his back garden in Westwood Lane.

Written evidence from his widow, read out at the inquest revealed she said, "don't do that, it's too late" as she tried to put out the flames.

Mr Newman's post mortem examination showed the pensioner to have suffered extreme burns to 75% of his body, the court heard. He died from his injuries the next day after being transferred to a specialist burns unit in East Grinstead.

The inquest heard Mr Newman had stayed busy and fit during his retirement but had developed increasingly poor health since the pair went on a walking holiday to France in 2005.

"He was affected by Lyme Disease after he had an operation to remove ticks from his body," Mrs Newman outlined in her statement. As well as suffering from painful arthritis, her husband also lost a large amount of weight and developed light and sound intolerance.

His GP attributed his symptoms to anxiety before he was actually diagnosed with Lyme Disease, his wife said. He was not diagnosed with any mental health problems.

Mrs Newman said her husband leaving his bed between 3am and 4am was not unusual as he often snacked during the night.

"She heard an awful noise from the rear end of the garden which prompted her to get up," the statement continued. "She could then see the flames and she thought the shed in the neighbour's garden was on fire until she realised it was her side."

Mrs Newman ran down stairs and attempted to put out the blaze with a towel before alerting neighbours and emergency services, who took him to the Royal Surrey County Hospital.

An open petrol can from Mr Newman's garage and matches was later found by police at the scene. Coroner Michael Burgess recorded an open verdict after stating the evidence was not enough to convince him that he had intended to set fire to himself.

12.11.08 - MP Hugo Swire raises awareness of Lyme disease in House of Commons.

EAST Devon MP Hugo Swire has raised awareness of Lyme disease in the House of Commons in a bid to highlight the condition. Mr Swire championed the cause because of a constituent from Sidmouth who suffers from the disease.

The seminar entitled 'Evidence for change' was inspired by Mrs Stella Huyshe-Shires, who contracted the disease in 1999 but was not diagnosed until 2002 and then only because she insisted on a blood test and a referral to a neurologist.

07.11.08 - Ticks and Lyme disease meeting in Scottish Parliament.

Representatives from BADA-UK today attended Scottish Parliament for a third meeting to discuss ticks and Lyme disease. The meeting, chaired by the Minster for Environment, Michael Russell, had a range of attendees included members of Scottish Government, Health Protection Scotland, Infectious Diseases, Scottish National Heritage, National Parks, and various countryside management, conservation and outdoor pursuits' organisations.

Having discussed at previous meetings the scale of the problem and the potential impact on human health, the group agreed to step up efforts to promote awareness among the public and healthcare practitioners. This included setting up a working group to look at ways of making sure that General Practitioners were fully aware of the early signs and symptoms of Lyme borreliosis. An Infectious Diseases Consultant from Glasgow also outlined the fact that patients presenting with symptoms highly suggestive of Lyme disease can benefit from a trial of treatment even in the absence of a positive blood test result.

03.11.08 - Ticks threaten countryside pursuits.

Shooting parties have been warned to take precautions against ticks after new research showed a rise in the bloodsucking insects that increasingly carry disease. Game shooting often involves striding across the moors or overgrown woodland.

11.10.08 - Family's horror as girl, 8, gets Lyme disease from tick bite.

A Family have spoken of their horror after their daughter caught a rare and potentially life threatening disease from a tick bite. It is thought Sasha Hughes, eight, was bitten by a tick in a field of sheep, which infected her with Lyme disease.

08.10.08 - Wildlife gives early warning of 'deadly dozen' diseases spread by climate change.

The dozen diseases include cholera, which survives better in warmer conditions, lyme disease and babesiosis, which are carried by ticks, and avian flu, which can spread when climate change disrupts migration patterns of wild birds.

08.10.08 - Climate change spreading 'deadly dozen' diseases, experts warn.

Diseases ranging from avian flu to yellow fever are likely to spread more because of climate change, the Wildlife Conservation Society warned today. It listed the 'deadly dozen' as avian flu, tick-borne babesia, cholera, ebola, parasites, plague, lyme disease, red tides of algal blooms, Rift Valley fever, sleeping sickness, tuberculosis and yellow fever.

06.10.08 - 'One Tick Away' documentary coming soon.

Today marked the last day of filming for BADA-UK after several months of gathering footage for a purely British documentary about Borreliosis / Lyme disease. Working with talented filmmaker João Paulo Simões (pictured left), of Frontier Media, we selected sufferers of the disease to talk frankly about their experiences. The film focuses on the massive impact that ticks can have, not only on human health and wellbeing, but also on wildlife.

28.08.08 - Paralympic archer aims for medal in Beijing.

Paralympic archer Mel Clarke is aiming for a medal on her Paralympic Games debut in Beijing in September. The 25-year-old from Taverham told BBC Radio Norfolk of her 'long road' to China after being selected to represent Great Britain.

Clarke contracted Lyme disease from an infected bite in 2003, which left her paralysed and partially blind. "I was told at the time that I'd never shoot my bow again so to be going to the games is amazing," she said.

18.07.08 - Schoolgirl fears she could be paralysed by tick bite.

Danielle Fisher, 13, was bitten last October and doctors struggled for six months to diagnose her condition. They have now concluded she has Lyme disease, a condition that can cause nerve damage, paralysis and blindness.

Yesterday her mother, Dominique, 35, who first suggested the diagnosis to doctors, said: "It's staggering that this has been caused by one bite. Danielle is literally bedridden. She can barely walk because she is so weak and she gets tired really easily.

09.07.08 - Insight Radio talks ticks

Chair of BADA-UK, Wendy Fox, talked about her experience of Lyme disease today to Insight Radio DJ, Simon Pauley. Insight Radio is the radio station of RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People), and is Europe's first radio station for a blind or partially sighted audience.

Wendy Fox was registered blind after a brain swelling (caused by Lyme disease) left her blind in her left eye and partially sighted in her right eye. Prior to the brain swelling, Wendy also suffered from Optic Neuritis, inflammation of the optic nerve, which can cause eye pain and visual impairment. Our thanks go to Insight Radio for introducing this important topic to their listeners.

05.07.08 - March of the countryside bug that can blind walkers

A woodland picnic or meander across the moors will never be the same again. According to health experts, such days out are putting a record number of people at risk of one of the country's least known - and most unpleasant - diseases. In the last decade, Britain has seen a fivefold rise in Lyme disease - a potentially crippling infection carried by ticks that thrive in bracken and long grass.

25.06.08 - Inaugural meeting of a new Associate Parliamentary Group for Environmental Health, London.

BADA-UK representatives attended an inaugural meeting of a new Associate Parliamentary Group for Environmental Health. The purpose of the group is to raise awareness regarding the contribution of environmental health and environmental interventions in improving public health. The event also saw the launch of the World Health Organisation (WHO) publication 'Public Significance of Urban Pests', which is a review of the current status of urban pests and their effect on a multitude of issues to do with public health in Europe and North America. Highlighted in the book is the fact that urban planners are now faced with the dramatic expansion of urban sprawl, where the suburbs of our cities are growing into the natural habitat of ticks, rodents and other pests.

As a Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) Vice President in Parliament, Joan Walley MP chaired the meeting. Kevin Sweeney, a senior entomologist from the US Office of Pesticide Programs, Environment Protection Agency, gave a presentation on the new WHO publication. Wendy Fox, Chair of BADA-UK, talked about the work of the charity in raising public and professional awareness about ticks and tick-borne disease in the UK. She also stressed the urgent need for greater research into prevention and treatment of these infections, and the roll in which Pest Control Officers might play in gaining a greater incite into the extent of urban tick populations.

Attorney General's Investigation Reveals Flawed Lyme Disease Guideline Process

In a press release by the Connecticut Attorney General's Office, it has been reported that serious flaws in the Infectious Diseases Society of America's (IDSA) process for writing its 2006 Lyme disease guidelines have been uncovered by Connecticut Attorney General, Richard Blumenthal. Mr. Blumenthal said "My office uncovered undisclosed financial interests held by several of the most powerful IDSA panelists. The IDSA's guideline panel improperly ignored or minimized consideration of alternative medical opinion and evidence regarding chronic Lyme disease, potentially raising serious questions about whether the recommendations reflected all relevant science".

The National Health Service in the UK relies heavily on the IDSA Guidelines and this impacts significantly on the outcome of Lyme disease treatment in the UK. The IDSA has agreed to reassess the guidelines with the assistance of an outside arbiter.

03.05.08 - Charity fundraising weekend is great success

Michelle Lawson (pictured far left) suffers from Lyme disease but, in an attempt to fundraise and to create awareness of the condition, she organised a Bank Holiday weekend fundraiser called "With You in a Tick", at her family's hair salon in Spalding. Friends and family flocked to help by baking cakes and donating prizes for an open auction. Michelle said, "Cakes for our stall just flooded in and I had so many friends helping in my kitchen to make fudge and cakes, and to create posters, badges and t-shirts to raise awareness. Everyone has been fantastic".

Singer Michelle Gayle, who was singing at Spalding Music Festival, also took time to talk to Michelle about Lyme disease. When hearing about Michelle's battle with the condition, she said she was "absolutely shocked".

Twins, Andy and Paul Chapman from X Factor, who are now "Double Impact" and were also appearing at the music festival, talked to Michelle and were stunned that a tiny tick could make someone so poorly.

The Twins and Michelle Gayle signed "With You in a Tick" T-shirts, which will later be sold to raise money for BADA-UK.

Michelle raised a total of £250 for BADA-UK and she says, "I plan to raise more soon".

We would like to thank Michelle and all her friends and family for their hard work and generosity. Our thanks also go to all the people who so generously gave their time and money.

26.04.08 - NGO presents cheque to BADA-UK

Stuart Riddell, Chairman of the Northumberland and Durham branch of the National Gamekeepers Organisation presented a cheque for £1,000 to BADA-UK today.

The money was raised from the Lambton Park Clay Pigeon Shoot, at Chester-Le-Street in County Durham, and was generously donated to BADA-UK to help in raising awareness about tick-borne diseases.

The cheque was presented to Wendy Fox, (BADA-UK Chairperson), Katrina Anderson, (Vice Chairperson), and Craig Coady, (Secretary).

Wendy Fox said, "Our sincere thanks go to the NGO for their continued support. We'd also like to thank all the attendees of the shoot who generously made donations and bought raffle tickets".

25.04.08 - BADA-UK attends 2nd meeting in Scottish Parliament

Representatives from BADA-UK attended a second meeting in the Scottish Parliament today to discuss action that can be taken to raise awareness about tick-borne disease amongst Scotland's medical professionals and the general public.

The meeting, chaired by Minister for Environment, Michael Russell, was attended by government officials from Health Protection Scotland and representatives from a number of countryside, environmental, conservation, farming, and outdoor pursuits organisations.

During the various topics discussed, it was highlighted that more research is needed to determine a better understanding of the extent of tick-borne diseases in the UK, and more access to information is needed for sections of the community without internet access.

29.04.08 Beware 'tick disease' warn experts

Health professionals and scientists are warning people to take precautions against the risk of contracting tick disease as climate change sees the threat move into new areas. Parts of the UK are now possible infection areas with forest regions, such as Thetford Forest, potential risk sites.

Sunday Sun 27.04.08 - Lyme disease mission

A WOMAN who suffered “six years of hell” after medics failed to correctly diagnose her symptoms as Lyme disease is trying to raise awareness of the illness in the North.

BBC News 17.04.08 - Lyme disease warning to islanders.

People on the Isle of Man are being warned of the dangers of Lyme disease. The tick-borne infection is on the increase as a result of mild winters and hotter summers, which mean the parasites live and breed for longer.

Gazette & Herald 19.04.08 - Mum warns of bug danger in the grass.

A MARLBOROUGH mum has warned that deadly danger lurks in the grass, especially as spring sunshine awakes sleeping bugs. Mother-of-two Terry Riley, of Golding Avenue, is still recovering from Lyme Disease, which she picked up from a tick bite last May.

Death plunge of the wealthy woman turned paranoid by a tick bite 11th April 2008

A woman plunged to her death from her bedroom window after suffering paranoid delusions caused by a tick bite, an inquest heard. Jan Linton, 56, was bitten when she stayed on a friend's nine-acre estate in France.

Ticks and tick borne disease are dangers

"Ross Montague of the SCA said, "ticks and tick borne disease are dangers that we should all be aware of, especially those that live and work in rural Scotland. It is also important to keep up to date with findings on the best methods of tick removal and bite prevention. Some of the 'old favourite' methods have now been proven to be less than effective!

Harrowing illness tale highlights tick menace 02.04.08

TICK Prevention Week (April 7 to 13) is using the harrowing example of Tilly Upton to illustrate the devastating effects a tick bite can have. The 27-year-old, from Dorset, has spent five years confined to her bed or a wheelchair after being bitten between the toes by the blood-sucking tick, Ixodes ricinus.

Daily Mail 01.04.08 - Sarah Warren thought she was coming down with flu.

After a marathon weekend of biking and running in the summer of 2005, the superfit primary school teacher assumed she'd overdone it. Her head was pounding, her muscles ached and she was exhausted. "What hit me was like a combination of the worst flu, the worst jet lag and the worst hangover I've ever had," says Sarah, 40.

BASC Scotland calls on first aid bodies to acknowledge tick danger

10 March 2008……………………………………………immediate release.
The British Association for Shooting and Conservation (Scotland) has called on the UK’s first aid organisations to acknowledge the danger that ticks present to human health.

HPA warns of increase in Tick-borne disease

In a press release on the likely health effects of climate change in the UK, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) reports that tick-borne diseases are likely to become more common due to changes in land management and an increase in leisure activities.