Early summer is tick time: but where do most bloodsuckers lurk in high meadows and forests? The editorial team explains the risk areas in Germany in 2020.
- As the warm season begins, the unpopular ticks crawl again .
- The dreaded tick diseases are particularly common in these regions .
With the summer, the temperatures rise again - while this is a cause for joy for some, it can also be a lot of suffering for others. After all, it is now the ticking season - this means that families should be particularly careful in the green.
TBE risk areas in Germany in 2020 according to the Robert Koch Institute
Especially in the so-called high - risk areas in Germany , the bloodsuckers are increasingly romping around. Areas at risk include:
- Baden-Wuerttemberg
- Bavaria
- Hesse
- Rhineland-Palatinate
- Thuringia
- Saxony
In these parts of Germany, the risk of transmission of TBE viruses is particularly high . Infection can lead to early summer meningoencephalititis. This causes inflammation of the meninges and spinal cord . In severe cases, permanent damage such as paralysis of parts of the body can occur.
For a more precise overview, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) has created a map that shows the TBE risk areas in Germany . These have been defined in such a way that they represent a certain number of TBE diseases in a district or district region in a five-year period.
TBE risk areas in Germany
© © Robert Koch Institute, 2020
In addition, the ticks in this area are examined in special laboratories for TBE viruses. In addition to the parasites, the hosts, primarily mice and foxes, can also be tested for the pathogens. The researchers can also read the risk of infection from these two parameters: the more ticks are contaminated with TBE viruses and the more animals have pathogens, the higher the likelihood of transmission to humans.
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Ticks: 444 TBE diseases transmitted - 24 percent decrease compared to the previous year
Good to know: However, TBE risk areas are not the same as tick areas . After all, ticks are at home everywhere in Germany. They prefer to live in forests, tall grass, on bushes and in the undergrowth. Therefore, there are no general risk areas for ticks or even tick cards.
In addition, the tick is not dangerous per se, but rather transmits potentially dangerous pathogens such as TBE viruses or Lyme bacteria. However, not every tick bite has to be accompanied by an infection - and not every infection triggers a disease.
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According to the RKI , a total of 444 TBE cases were transmitted in 2019 (data status: January 16, 2020). This should correspond to a decrease of 24 percent compared to the previous year. Over half of the diseases have been transmitted in connection with meningitis, encephalitis or myelitis.
With 444 # FMSE diseases, there were an above-average number of cases in 2019 for the 4th year in a row.
There are 3 new risk areas that border on existing risk areas #EpidBull 8/2020 with map of the risk areas & explanation of the situation https://t.co/sT1P4zuCsi#impfenschützen pic.twitter.com/7l8XsppEdr
TBE vaccination is often covered by statutory health insurance companies
The Standing Vaccination Commission (STIKO) at the Robert Koch Institute therefore recommends that people living in TBE risk areas have a TBE vaccine administered as a preventive measure. This applies in particular to (small) children, senior citizens and people with an already weak immune system.
Many statutory health insurance companies already cover the costs for tick immunization. Tip: The best thing to do is to inquire at the responsible cash register.
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Watch out: these are the eight most common mistakes about ticks
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List of rubric lists: © dpa / picture alliance / Daniel Reinhardt