KILDARE: Call for more public information about disease risk in public places

There has been a call for more public information to be provided about Lyme Disease, which is transmitted to people by blacklegged ticks and can have consequences such as fever, rash, facial paralysis, and arthritis.

Cllr  Mark Leigh asked that Kildare County Council erect signage warning of the dangers of Lyme Disease at all parks, playgrounds and public open spaces.

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However, the council responded that the best method of communication may not necessarily be through signage -  but  through social media and websites to reach a wide audience. This is due to the seasonality of the disease and the locations which are relatively specific and not confined to public areas. Another important consideration, according to the council, is to prevent a  proliferation of signage “that we are asked to erect in parks and open spaces to highlight various issues.”

The council said that any work required would have to be considered in the context of existing commitments across the county and what level of priority is to be attached to this relative to such commitments.

Cllr Leigh said any action taken should be coordinated with Lyme Disease Awareness Day on May 1.