Ticks are gaining ground: what do you need to know?
25.4.2023
Translation: machine translated
After a mild winter, ticks are still gaining ground. What is the real danger posed by these unloved arachnids? And how can you protect yourself?
A tick bite can lead to serious illness. People who spend a lot of time outdoors should therefore protect themselves from Ixodes ricinus, commonly known as the sheep tick.
What diseases can they transmit?
A tick bite is not necessarily dangerous in itself. What makes arachnids so threatening to humans are the diseases they can cause by transmitting viruses or bacteria. Notably Lyme disease, also known as borreliosis, and FSME.
Borreliosis is caused by infection with the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and is the disease most frequently transmitted by ticks. In the early stages, it causes local redness at the site of the bite and flu-like symptoms. Later, inflammation of the nervous system, numbness and joint pain may occur. A chronic course of the disease can be prevented by administering antibiotics to the infected person in good time.
Tick-borne meningoencephalitis (TBE) is a viral disease that can cause inflammation of the brain (encephalitis), meninges (meningitis) and central nervous system. Unlike Lyme disease, there is no treatment for FSME. Between 30% and 40% of those infected suffer long-term damage to their central nervous system and, in rare cases, the disease can lead to death. There is, however, a vaccine, recommended for anyone living in a high-risk area and spending a lot of time outdoors.
The ticks are gaining ground
FSME is one of the notifiable diseases, which makes it possible to track its spread. In Switzerland, the Federal Office of Public Health publishes a map of at-risk areas; in Germany, the Robert-Koch Institute is in charge. Ticks only appear up to an altitude of 1,500 metres, so areas at higher altitudes are safe. In recent years, however, the areas where ticks are found have continued to expand.
And with the mild winter we've had, we can expect them to spread even further this year.
How to protect yourself
It is therefore recommended that anyone living in an area at risk of FSME should get vaccinated. However, the vaccine does not protect in 100% of cases and does not help to combat Lyme disease.
The first thing to do is therefore to protect yourself from any bites:
- outdoors, it is advisable to wear covering clothing that is tight around the wrists and ankles,
- the most effective way is to tuck trouser legs into socks or shoes. Insects will find it less easy to find a place to bite,
- ticks are easier to spot on light-coloured clothing,
- ticks are often found in tall grass, so it's best to avoid meadows and dense undergrowth,
- certain insect repellents are effective against ticks and keep them at bay,
- it is also advisable to examine your body after an outdoor walk to remove ticks before they bite you.
How to remove a tick safely
If, despite all these precautions, a tick has taken up residence on your skin, you must remove it as quickly as possible. It is important to remove the tick correctly to minimise the risk of infection.
- To do this, take tweezers, pliers or a tick card and grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible. Take care not to crush the tick, as this increases the risk of infection.
- Then pull, without twisting. The best way to remove the tick is slowly and smoothly. This is the best way to prevent the head of the insect from getting stuck in the skin and to remove the tick completely. Moreover, home remedies such as oil, alcohol or nail varnish are neither recommended nor necessary.
- Once the tick has been removed, the bite area should be disinfected and monitored for a few days, or even weeks, if any redness appears. If a red ring forms around the bite, there may have been an infection with Lyme disease. If this is the case, go to the doctor immediately for treatment as soon as possible.
Science editor and biologist. I love animals and am fascinated by plants, their abilities and everything you can do with them. That's why my favourite place is always outside - somewhere in nature, preferably in my wild garden.