Disease Notification
In certain circumstances, physicians and employers are required to report confirmed or suspected cases of Lyme disease and other tick-borne infections.
Reporting in Scotland
In Scotland, Lyme disease, Q-fever and Babesiosis are notifiable diseases
and as such are covered by The Public Health (Notification of Infectious
Diseases) (Scotland) Regulations 1988/89. This requires that notification
takes place on the basis of clinical suspicion; a diagnosis does not have
to be laboratory confirmed. A multi-disciplinary working group was tasked
with reviewing current arrangements between various organisations and
their involvement in any reported outbreaks. In 2001 this working group
produced the 
"Guidelines
for the Investigation of Zoonotic Diseases in Scotland", which
identifies the roles and responsibilities of those involved.
Reporting in England and Wales
Throughout England and Wales, an enhanced voluntary monitoring scheme exists. The Health Protection Agency's (HPA) Lyme Reference Section reports only laboratory confirmed cases of Lyme disease directly to the Zoonoses Surveillance Unit. Suspected cases, or clinically diagnosed cases on the basis of clinical symptoms, or an Erythema Migrans alone, are not recorded.
No other tick-borne diseases (unless occupationally acquired) are reportable in England & Wales.
Occupational-acquired disease
Occupationally-acquired cases of Borreliosis / Lyme disease and other
associated tick-borne infections should also be notified to the Health
and Safety Executive (HSE). The
Reporting of Injuries Disease and Dangerous Occurences Regulations 1995
(RIDDOR) apply to England, Scotland and Wales. These regulations required
work-related accidents, disease and dangerous occurrences to be reported
and this includes all work activities. It is the responsibility of employers
and the self-employed to submit a report to health and safety enforcing
authorities.
Occupationally-acquired Borreliosis is seldom reported (perhaps through lack of awareness of the regulations and through lack of diagnosis / misdiagnosis) but the majority of these cases occur in zookeepers, forestry workers, farmers, deer handlers and gamekeepers. Borreliosis / Lyme disease is also a reportable condition for those serving in the British Armed Forces.
The Social Security (Industrial Injuries) (Prescribed Diseases) Amendment Regulations 2005 include Borreliosis in the list of prescribed diseases. Evidence indicates that there is a greater than doubled risk of contracting Borreliosis in certain groups of workers who are exposed to Borrelia bacteria.
DACTARI
DACTARI
(Dog and Cat Risk Information), is part of DEFRA's (Department for Environment
Food and Rural Affairs) ten-year veterinary surveillance strategy which
aims to quantify the occurrence of exotic diseases in imported or native
pet animals in Britain. This will thereby monitor the risks of these diseases
spreading in the UK, and the potential consequences for animal health
should this occur.
Under the DACTARI scheme, veterinary surgeons can voluntarily report suspected or confirmed cases of exotic disease in dogs and cats. Although any exotic disease can be reported under DACTARI, it specifically targets Babesiosis, Anaplasmosis / Ehrlichiosis, along with Dirofilariasis and Leishmaniasis. These diseases are carried and transmitted by ticks, sandflies or mosquitoes, and therefore occur more commonly in warmer climates that favour vector survival. It also highlights that the diagnosis of these diseases can be difficult for various reasons, such as dual infection, sub-clinical infection and non-specific clinical signs.
