04/03/2016
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Dog owners advised to avoid walking dogs on land between Second Avenue/Third Avenue and Tendring Road
Harlow Council is advising dog owners to avoid walking their dogs on an area of land between Second Avenue/Third Avenue (A1025) and Tendring Road where there might be ticks associated with the disease Babesiosis.
The area potentially affected is marked on the attached map.
The precautionary advice from the Council follows reports that dogs have been treated for Babesiosis by local vets and had been walked within the marked area.
Vets are concerned that the disease, which can have serious implications for dogs, could have become established in the area.
The ticks concerned are extremely rare in Britain and this is the first time that Babesia, the bacterium causing the disease, has been found in the tick in the UK.
It is important that dog owners have their pets protected with anti-tick treatment and regularly check their dogs for ticks. Further advice is available from local vets.
As well as this advice notice, posters will be placed within the area.
Councillor Mark Wilkinson, Portfolio Holder for Environment, said:
"This is purely precautionary advice to dog walkers and follows information which has been passed to us by local vets who have recently treated three dogs who had been walked in the area. We feel it is appropriate to alert dog owners of a potential issue as it is a popular area with dog walkers.
"Further tests are going to be carried on the land once the weather improves and if necessary further advice will be issued. The Council is also in contact with the Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs and is seeking any further advice from them."