About Us

Tick Talk Ireland

“Encouraging awareness, prevention & treatment of Lyme Disease (Borreliosis) in Ireland.”

Do you have strange symptoms that no-one can diagnose such as joint pain, muscle aches, fatigue, tingling, weakness, memory loss, brain fog, dizziness, nausea, swollen glands & recurring throat & ear pains?

Have you been diagnosed with M.E., Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), Fibromyalgia (FMS), Multiple Sclerosis (MS) or Parkinson’s Disease?

Do you suspect you have Lyme disease? (The symptoms of Lyme are varying in nature but can mimic many of the illnesses listed above)

Did you know that:-

Less than 50% of sufferers experience a Bulls eye rash?
source: ILADS: About Lyme

Less than 50% of sufferers receive a positive blood test?
source: Canlyme: Tests

Not everyone will remember being bitten by a tick.

This shows how difficult it is to diagnose this disease!

About Lyme:

Ticks are carriers of a devastating disease called Borreliosis or Lyme disease & may also transmit many other co-infections. Lyme disease & other tick-borne diseases can infect the cardiac & endocrine system; can cause joint pain, fatigue & if untreated can lead to worsening neurological symptoms.

To protect against ticks always:

* Carry tick repellents & spray onto outer clothing before any countryside activities

* Keep all trouser legs tucked in & wear shiny material to prevent ticks hanging onto clothes

* Stick to footpaths & avoid brushing against long grass or going under overhanging branches

* Always check clothing & body when getting home, including all the family & pets

Lyme Treatment & Symptom Guide

Leaflet: Lyme Prevention in Ireland

Tick Talk Ireland on Facebook

Tick Talk Ireland’s Main Site

Tick Talk Ireland on Twitter

Purchase Tick Twisters

Make a Donation

FAQ

If you know of anyone who may be affected or who are at risk from tick bites please help us to spread the word!

Important Note: This website is intended for information purposes only and should not be substituted for medical advice by a practicing physician..

As from September 2011 Lyme is now a notifiable disease, however only lab confirmed neuroborreliosis cases are reportable to the authorities

Charity Number: 19588 Contact us at: info (AT) ticktalkireland.org

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** Update Feb 2012

We’re excited to announce our first Lyme conference in Ireland.

WHEN:

Half day Tuesday 5th June – protection & prevention tips, plus tick-borne infections in animals

Full day Wednesday 6th June – lyme disease in humans including testing, treatment & research

WHERE:

Clontarf Castle, Dublin (close to the airport, city centre, motorways & ferry terminals)

WHO:

The conference will be suited to the following audience:

Tuesday session – members of the public who enjoy walking, camping or hunting, pet owners, farmers, park rangers & vets

Wednesday session – patients of diagnosed or suspected tick-borne diseases, doctors, nurses & interested scientists

For details on registration & starting times, how to book & where to stay hop to: Lyme Disease Conference June 2012
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** Update Jan 2012

Due to changes within facebook, topics on the discussion board are no longer available & all the links have now been lost. Luckily hard copies were kept of all the links & articles & in the coming weeks they will be re-built on our site. An update will follow shortly once all is ready for viewing.
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** Update November 2011

As from September 2011 Lyme is now a notifiable disease, which means that all cases are reportable to the authorities! – Feb 2012 update: It appears that only lab confirmed neuroborreliosis cases are being reported, this has the potential to miss many cases & does little in tracking true numbers of the disease, see my comment for more..

Following a meeting with the Deer Alliance & talk by chair Pauline Reid, several ticks were collected & sent for analysis to Germany. Lyme leaflets & twisters were quickly snapped up on the day!
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** Update October 2011

Tick Talk Ireland completed their very first tick sweep in Ireland. More than 15 ticks including nymphs, larval ticks & adults were readily found around the picnic area in Portumna Forest, Co. Galway. More tick sweeps are being planned for 2012.

Lyme Research UK & Ireland led by Kate Bloor has released a new survey for Lyme disease patients in UK & Ireland. More details available at: http://ticktalkireland.wordpress.com/2011/10/17/surveys-sweeps/

Special Offer available until Christmas 2011:

* Donate 10 euro or more & receive a free ‘find a cure’ lyme green bangle.
* Donate 15 euro or more & receive a free pack of 2 tick twisters.
* Donate 25 euro or more & receive both items.

Offer to end 31st December.

Please visit the bottom of our merchandise page for details on how to donate (using paypal). For cheque donations contact us for mailing details. http://ticktalkireland.org/merchandise.html

Details of how we aim to use the funds can be found at: http://ticktalkireland.org/whatwedo.html
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** Update August 2011:

New merchandise available including Lyme awareness bracelets available at: http://www.ticktalkireland.org/merchandise.html
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** Update July 2011:

Interim report of our Tick Talking while you’re walking tick survey & vet study of Ireland is now available: Tick Talking Results July 12

Final to be announced at the end of the tick season in November.
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** Update June 2011:

Newly released for 2011:

Survey – Tick Talking While You’re Walking: if you see any ticks in Ireland let us know & we may be doing some tick sweeps in your area!

Survey – Vet Study Ireland: this is to encourage a record of ticks found in farm & companion animals as reported by vets nationwide.

For all our other surveys go to: http://ticktalkireland.org/surveys.html
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** Update May 2011:

On the 1st of May Tick Talk Ireland held their first fundraiser event, an evening of music and entertainment. We are pleased and proud to say it was a great success and an evening which was enjoyed by all. In total we raised just over €2000 during the bank holiday weekend which was raised from a street collection on Friday, followed by a sponsored walk on Sunday afternoon followed by the main event on Sunday evening. We would like to thank everyone who helped, including our sponsors, the band Fusion, the walkers and all who attended the music night.

For photos from the night please click here.
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** Update April 2011:

Our new logo has now been launched. A big thanks to Pauline Reid who came up with our final design – I think it looks terrific. Sadly, no other designs were received apart from a bullseye design by Jenny O’Dea which will be used in an upcoming article

Tick Talk Ireland submitted a letter of inquiry to the new Minister of Health, Dr James Reilly, regarding making Lyme a notifiable illness in the new government. Please find below his reply:

4th April 2011:

The Minister for Health, Dr. James Reilly, T.D., has asked me to thank you for your recent letter concerning the notifiable status of Lyme Disease.

The Minister has asked me to inform you that as part of a review of Infectious Diseases Regulations being undertaken in the Department, it is proposed that Lyme Disease will be included as a notifiable infectious disease under proposed new legislation.

See our petition section on Facebook for more info!
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** Update March 2011:

Tick Twisters now available for sale!
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** Update February 2011:

The EU petitions committee have responded to our petition (information will be forwarded to the European Centre for Disease Control – (ECDC)

For response letter go to our petition section on Facebook for info!

Tick Talk Ireland is now a registered charity – aiming to raise awareness, prevention & treatment of Lyme in Ireland through public awareness venues, printing of Lyme prevention leaflets, encouraging doctors to attend Lyme seminars & training & encouraging further research into the management of tick-borne disease.

A new website has been created at www.ticktalkireland.org
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** Update December 2010:

Tick Talk Ireland’s petition to the European Parliament petitions committee has now been accepted.

Go to our petition section on Facebook to see more!

Tick Talk Announces their Design A Logo Competition. Closing Date 31st March 2011. Prizes offered.

For more details go to: Design A Logo Competition
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** Update July 2010:

If any family or friends are thinking of visiting the national park areas of Ireland, hows about completing this new survey?

Details as follows:

Tick Talk Ireland – Tick In Time Campaign:

A Tick in Time Saves LYME!

Tick Talk Ireland are concerned about the lack of public awareness regarding the dangers of Lyme disease.

The HPSC have put together an awareness leaflet to be distributed to Coillte, the National Trails Office, National Park Visitors Centres and local authorities.

It is our wish to ensure that all major public areas have awareness leaflets available to the public, or where there is a ‘leave no trace policy’ that a poster at least is displayed.

To assist us in checking if information is reaching the public we need help with the following survey. Those visiting national park areas or nature trails are welcome to participate. Follow up surveys can also be completed if you visit again in the future.

To maintain privacy your IP address will not be recorded by Tick Talk Ireland. Apart from initials, & county of origin, no further personal information is required.

View the HPSC leaflet & fact sheet
Go to Survey

Thank you for your participation!
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** Update June 2010:

Tick Talk Ireland have submitted a new petition to the European Parliament petitions committee.

Go to our petition section on Facebook to see more!
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**Update September 2009:

Thank you to all those who signed our petition:

“Make Lyme Disease a notifiable illness in Ireland”

The petition was submitted to the Minister of Health 2nd September 2009. I have also submitted to Ms Harney results of our survey – a summary of these results can be obtained at the following link. The reply from the Minister of Health of 10th September is also posted in the link below!

Results of Survey

The survey is still open and we will continue to review answers as they come in (details below!)

*Try out our New Lyme Disease Survey in Ireland
(All replies are anonymous and no contact details are required)

To qualify you must be a Lyme sufferer who is:

* Living in Ireland – infected by Lyme here or abroad or
* Not living in Ireland – but infected within Irish Counties

Lyme Disease Survey in Ireland

Thank you for visiting us at Tick Talk Ireland!

Come & see us on Facebook today!