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The Bacterial Infection That's Spread To Humans By Insects – 5 Symptoms To Watch Out For
PEOPLE are being warned about a bacterial infection that becomes a more glaring issue in summer.
Lyme Disease is caused by a reaction to tick bites, which can be more common in hot weather.
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Ticks live in sand dunes, woodland areas, and in long grassCredit: Getty Images - Getty
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The first symptom includes a bullseye like rashCredit: Getty Images - GettyTicks tend to live on sand dunes, in long grass, and in woodland or bushy areas.
People spending time outdoors at the beach, hiking, or cycling may be at risk of being bitten.
Once bitten by an infected tick, the first symptom of a circular red rash will start to show.
The rash looks similar to a bullseye with the bite mark in the middle.
It can appear up to three months after being bitten by a tick although they usually appear within the first four weeks.
Although not everyone with a tick bite will get a rash, it usually affects those who do develop it for several weeks.
Other fly-like symptoms will likely follow the rash.
These include a high temperature or feeling hot and shivery.
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Falling asleep on hols left me disfigured - docs are baffled by mysteryA second symptom is headaches and a third is muscle or joint pain.
What is Lyme disease and how do ticks spread it? PROPER PROCEDUREAnd a fourth symptom is a feeling of tiredness, fatigue, or loss of energy.
The HSE stressed that most tick bites are harmless, with five per cent of ticks in Ireland thought to carry Lyme disease.
Health bosses said: "Only a small number of ticks are infected with the bacteria that cause Lyme disease.
"A tick bite can only cause Lyme disease in humans if the tick has bitten an infected animal."
But they stressed that ticks should be removed from your body as soon as possible.
To do this, you should check your entire body for ticks after being outside.
TIME FRAMEAnd parents should check their children's skin as well as their head and hairlines for the insects.
Pets and animals can also carry ticks and should also be checked after spending time outside.
Lyme disease can be prevented if the tick is removed within 36 hours.
Ticks can be removed from the body by using tweezers.
The HSE recommend grasping the tick as close to the skin as possible, then slowly pulling upwards.
The bite should then be cleaned with antiseptic or soap and water.
You can dispose of a tick by:
Health chiefs said you should contact your GP if you have a rash or fever if you were bitten by a tick.
You should also get in touch if you have a rash or fever after spending time outdoors in an area with woods or long grass.
There are a few steps that can be taken in order to prevent tick bites.
You can cover your skin while walking outdoors and tuck your trousers into your socks.
Wearing an insect repellent should also help, while wearing light-coloured clothing makes ticks easier to spot and brush off.
And while out walking, people should stick to paths as much as possible.
Lyme disease can be treated with antibiotics, which can take up to a few months for some people, although symptoms should start improving over time.
SYMPTOMS OF LYME DISEASE
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Lyme disease is caused by bites from infected ticksCredit: Getty Images - GettyUH Researchers Link Dolphin Strandings To Infectious Disease That Can Spread To Humans
Striped dolphins in the wild. (Credit: Robin W. Baird / Cascadia Research)
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa's Health and Stranding Lab scientists say they are concerned after three striped dolphins stranded on east Oʻahu shorelines over seven days and tested positive for Brucella ceti, a bacterial infection that can transfer from animals to humans. The UH researchers say the three cases could signal a much larger problem for dolphins and whales in Hawaiian waters.
Two of the dolphins were found in Waimānalo on June 7 and 8, and the third was found in Waikāne on June 15. Cultural practitioners were present at each response and advised the UH first response team.
Public urged to keep distance, report strandingsIn humans, the infection can cause flu-like symptoms, neurological issues and chronic arthritis if untreated.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD"Brucella ceti can be dangerous to humans who touch infected marine mammals," said Kristi West, associate researcher at UH Mānoa's College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience (CTAHR) who directs the university's Health and Stranding Lab. "It is best to be cautious and avoid touching or handling stranded animals. We strongly urge the public to report any whales and dolphins in distress in the ocean or stranded on beaches."
Since most carcasses are never recovered, public reporting is critical for understanding threats to marine mammal health.
"Dolphins and whales are recognized sentinels of ocean health and give us signs and signals about what's happening out there," said West. "Three strandings within one week likely represents many more dolphins that died and were lost at sea. It raises our concern about what's happening to the animals in their ecosystem."
New bacteria strain ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ADCTAHR researchers identified striped dolphins as especially vulnerable to Brucella ceti and discovered the bacteria in other species of stranded dolphins and whales. The researchers published their findings in the Journal of Wildlife Diseases in May. Between 2000 and 2024, they found the bacteria in seven species including pygmy killer whales, sperm whales, spinner dolphins and a Longman's beaked whale. Many of the animals that tested positive showed severe brain and lung infections, with coinfections by viruses such as morbillivirus and herpesvirus.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ADWorking alongside UH Manoa School of Life Sciences microbiologist Michael Norris, the team has recently discovered a new strain of Brucella ceti in Hawaiian marine mammals that is likely the cause of the recent strandings. Work is ongoing and UH will continue its investigations this summer.
This research is made possible through a Zoonotic Disease Initiative grant from the US Fish and Wildlife Service to the Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources.
Report dolphin/whale strandings ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ADSightings of dead or distressed marine mammals can be reported to the toll-free statewide NOAA Marine Wildlife Hotline at 1(888) 256-9840.
Could A Simple Cut Become Your Death Sentence?
The hidden crisis that could make your next doctor visit a life-or-death situation
The golden age of antibiotics may be drawing to a catastrophic close, and the consequences could reshape modern medicine as we know it. What once seemed like routine medical procedures and minor infections are increasingly becoming potential death sentences as bacteria evolve sophisticated defenses against our most powerful drugs. This emerging crisis threatens to transport us back to a pre-antibiotic era where simple cuts, surgical procedures, and common illnesses carried genuine life-threatening risks.
The scope of this problem extends far beyond what most people realize, affecting everything from routine dental work to major surgeries. Hospitals worldwide are witnessing the emergence of bacterial strains that resist multiple antibiotics simultaneously, creating treatment challenges that would have been unimaginable just decades ago. These superbugs don't discriminate based on age, health status, or socioeconomic background, making antibiotic resistance a universal threat that affects everyone.
Understanding the magnitude of this crisis requires examining how rapidly bacterial resistance has evolved and spread. Bacteria that once succumbed easily to standard treatments now require increasingly powerful and toxic antibiotics, often with limited success. Some infections have become virtually untreatable with current medications, forcing medical professionals to resort to experimental treatments or watch helplessly as patients deteriorate.
The economic implications are staggering, with resistant infections requiring longer hospital stays, more expensive treatments, and specialized care that strains healthcare systems globally. Beyond the financial costs, the human toll includes prolonged suffering, permanent disabilities, and deaths that could have been prevented with effective antibiotics.
The 10 infections transforming from minor to monstrousUrinary tract infections represent the first battleground where antibiotic resistance is claiming victory. These common infections, which affect millions of people annually, are increasingly caused by bacteria that resist standard treatments. What once required a simple course of antibiotics now often demands multiple rounds of increasingly powerful drugs, with some cases becoming chronic conditions that resist all available treatments.
Skin and soft tissue infections have evolved from minor inconveniences into serious medical emergencies. Bacteria causing these infections now frequently resist multiple antibiotic classes, leading to rapidly spreading cellulitis, abscesses that require surgical intervention, and wound infections that refuse to heal. Simple cuts and scrapes can progress to life-threatening conditions within days when resistant bacteria gain access to the bloodstream.
Pneumonia, traditionally manageable with standard antibiotics, has become increasingly difficult to treat as resistant strains proliferate. Hospital-acquired pneumonia presents particular challenges, with some bacterial strains showing resistance to virtually all available antibiotics. Community-acquired pneumonia is also becoming more problematic, especially in vulnerable populations like the elderly and immunocompromised individuals.
Surgical site infections now pose significant risks to patients undergoing routine procedures. Bacteria resistant to prophylactic antibiotics can colonize surgical wounds, leading to deep tissue infections, implant failures, and systemic complications. These infections often require removal of surgical hardware, prolonged antibiotic courses, and additional surgeries to achieve healing.
Bloodstream infections caused by resistant bacteria carry mortality rates approaching those seen before antibiotics were discovered. These systemic infections can progress rapidly to septic shock and organ failure, with treatment options becoming increasingly limited as resistance patterns expand. Central line-associated bloodstream infections in hospitals present particular challenges due to the prevalence of multidrug-resistant organisms.
Bone and joint infections have become medical nightmares when caused by resistant bacteria. These deep-seated infections require prolonged antibiotic treatment, often lasting months, and frequently necessitate surgical intervention to remove infected tissue or hardware. Treatment failures are becoming more common, leading to chronic pain, disability, and repeated hospitalizations.
Gastrointestinal infections from resistant bacteria can cause severe colitis, prolonged diarrhea, and life-threatening complications. Hospital-acquired intestinal infections spread rapidly between patients and resist standard treatments, creating outbreak situations that force facility closures and quarantine measures.
Respiratory tract infections beyond pneumonia, including bronchitis and sinusitis, are increasingly difficult to treat effectively. Chronic respiratory conditions often result from initial infections that failed to respond to standard antibiotics, leading to recurring symptoms and progressive lung damage.
Heart valve infections, though less common, have become particularly deadly when caused by resistant organisms. These infections often require surgical valve replacement combined with prolonged intravenous antibiotic therapy, with treatment failures resulting in cardiac complications and death.
Brain and nervous system infections represent perhaps the most terrifying manifestation of antibiotic resistance. Meningitis and brain abscesses caused by resistant bacteria carry extremely high mortality rates, as few antibiotics can effectively cross the blood-brain barrier to reach therapeutic concentrations in nervous tissue.
How bacteria outsmart our best medicinesBacterial resistance mechanisms have evolved with remarkable sophistication, employing multiple strategies simultaneously to defeat antibiotic treatments. Enzyme production represents one of the most common resistance mechanisms, where bacteria manufacture specific proteins that break down antibiotics before they can exert their effects. These enzymes can be shared between different bacterial species through horizontal gene transfer, spreading resistance rapidly throughout bacterial populations.
Efflux pumps function like molecular vacuum cleaners, actively removing antibiotics from bacterial cells before they can cause damage. These pump systems can be enhanced through genetic mutations, allowing bacteria to expel multiple antibiotic classes simultaneously. The energy investment required for these pumps demonstrates how strongly bacteria have adapted to antibiotic pressure.
Target modification involves bacteria altering the cellular structures that antibiotics normally attack. By changing protein shapes or cellular components, bacteria can render antibiotics ineffective while maintaining their own essential functions. This mechanism often provides broad resistance to entire antibiotic classes.
Biofilm formation creates protective barriers that shield bacteria from antibiotic exposure. These complex communities of bacteria embedded in protective matrices can resist antibiotic concentrations hundreds of times higher than those needed to kill individual bacterial cells. Biofilms commonly form on medical devices, creating persistent infection sources that resist treatment.
Genetic flexibility allows bacteria to rapidly adapt to antibiotic pressure through mutations and gene acquisition. Bacteria can exchange resistance genes through conjugation, transformation, and transduction, creating a global network of genetic information sharing that accelerates resistance development. Plasmids carrying multiple resistance genes can transform susceptible bacteria into multidrug-resistant organisms within hours.
The perfect storm creating superbugsAntibiotic overuse and misuse have created intense selective pressure favoring resistant bacterial strains. Inappropriate prescribing for viral infections, incomplete treatment courses, and unnecessary broad-spectrum antibiotic use all contribute to resistance development. Each exposure to antibiotics kills susceptible bacteria while allowing resistant strains to multiply unchecked.
Agricultural antibiotic use represents a massive reservoir of resistance development, with livestock and crops receiving antibiotics for growth promotion and disease prevention. These practices create environmental reservoirs of resistant bacteria that can transfer to human pathogens through food chains, water systems, and direct contact.
Global travel and trade facilitate rapid worldwide spread of resistant bacterial strains. Patients can acquire resistant infections in one country and transport them globally within days, overwhelming local healthcare systems unprepared for exotic resistance patterns. Medical tourism contributes to this problem as patients seek treatments in countries with different antibiotic practices.
Hospital environments concentrate both vulnerable patients and resistant bacteria, creating ideal conditions for resistance emergence and spread. Intensive care units, in particular, serve as breeding grounds for multidrug-resistant organisms due to heavy antibiotic use and critically ill patients with compromised immune systems.
Inadequate infection control practices allow resistant bacteria to spread rapidly within healthcare facilities. Hand hygiene failures, contaminated medical equipment, and inadequate environmental cleaning contribute to healthcare-associated infections that resist standard treatments.
Fighting back against the bacterial uprisingNovel treatment approaches are being developed to overcome resistance mechanisms, including combination therapies that attack bacteria through multiple pathways simultaneously. These strategies aim to overwhelm bacterial defenses by targeting different cellular processes concurrently, making it difficult for bacteria to develop comprehensive resistance.
Antibiotic stewardship programs focus on optimizing antibiotic use to minimize resistance development while maintaining treatment effectiveness. These initiatives involve careful antibiotic selection, appropriate dosing, and duration optimization to maximize bacterial killing while minimizing selective pressure for resistance.
Infection prevention strategies represent the most effective approach to combating antibiotic resistance by preventing infections from occurring initially. Enhanced hygiene practices, vaccination programs, and environmental controls can dramatically reduce infection rates and subsequent antibiotic use.
Alternative treatment modalities, including bacteriophage therapy, antimicrobial peptides, and immunotherapy approaches, offer hope for treating resistant infections. These novel treatments bypass traditional antibiotic mechanisms, potentially overcoming existing resistance patterns while providing new therapeutic options.
Rapid diagnostic development aims to identify resistant infections quickly, allowing targeted therapy selection and reducing inappropriate antibiotic use. Point-of-care testing could revolutionize infection management by providing resistance information within hours rather than days.
The future of infection treatment depends on recognizing antibiotic resistance as a global crisis requiring immediate action. Individual responsibility for appropriate antibiotic use, combined with systemic healthcare improvements and research investments, offers the best hope for preserving these life-saving medications for future generations. The time for complacency has passed, and the actions taken today will determine whether common infections remain treatable tomorrow.
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