Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Wednesday, 28 November 2018
Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health
Lyme Disease: Discussion
9:00 am
Dr. John Lambert:
I secured private funding recently to establish a Lyme disease research centre, working with the patient groups here to increase awareness and education about the fact that Lyme disease is common. There are ticks in Killarney and there should be signage to that effect. We should educate people who are going to walk in the Wicklow Mountains to cover up, use insect repellant and check themselves afterwards for ticks. There are ticks and some of them carry Lyme disease. We have done some studies on that. Signs have been erected in Cape Cod and education is provided. I agree with the Deputy that the first thing we need is prevention through education of the public. Signage in forestry would be a good way to do that.