Warning over Disease caused by Parks' Deer

10.19.31am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 31st Jul 2007

Vincent Cable MP has asked the Royal Parks Agency to display more prominently information about Lyme Disease, caused by tick bites, originating with deer, after two residents had contacted him about their personal history with the disease.

Officially there are an estimated 600 people a year in the UK infected with the disease which can be dormant for long periods but when symptomatic has the effect of damaging the nervous system, leading to paralysis, major loss of energy and severe pain. But it is thought that there are many other sufferers, undiagnosed. It is a disease which if caught early can be cured with antibiotics but causes severe problems if left. It seems likely that the deer in the Royal Parks in Richmond and Teddington are vectors.

Vincent Cable has asked the Royal Parks to publicise the danger via notices in the Parks to raise awareness. He has also asked the Health Minister to make available to GPs and hospitals the latest information on treatment "since I am told that Britain is a long way behind the USA and France in early diagnosis and cure and thousands of cases are going undetected."