The corona pandemic and mild temperatures create ideal conditions for ticks.
Infectious diseases such as TBE and Lyme disease are therefore spreading rapidly.
The Corona * pandemic and mild temperatures favor the spread of
ticks
.
The number
of
TBE
infections was
already
at a record high in
2020
.
The forecasts for
TBE
and
Lyme disease are also
worrying
for 2021
.
You can protect yourself with these tips.
Frankfurt - Spring also begins the
tick season
.
The season in Germany usually starts in February and runs until October.
However, this time period can shift with corresponding temperatures.
Experts are already warning that, as a
result of climatic changes
, certain types of ticks
are looking for hosts at an earlier stage to bite them.
The often unnoticed bites can be dangerous for people, because
ticks
transmit infectious diseases such as
Lyme disease
and
early summer meningoencephalitis (TBE
).
As early as 2020, the number of TBE cases rose to a
record level
, which was not least due to the corona pandemic *.
Because in
lockdown
, more people were drawn to
nature
in good weather
.
In Germany, more people fell ill with
TBE
than ever since mandatory reporting began 20 years ago, said the Stuttgart University of Hohenheim.
High numbers of infections are also expected for 2021.
A
worrying trend is
thus continuing
.
TBE and Lyme disease: Warning of high infection rates - ticks on the rise
"I am expecting the
second highest TBE year
since records began in 2001," said Franz Rubel from the Vienna Institute for Public Veterinary Affairs at the beginning of March.
There will be an above-average number of small parasites in the course of the year.
This emerges from a prognosis by Rubel and other researchers from the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, which
predicts
the
tick density
on the basis of a mathematical model
.
The forecast model was developed using tick observations from southern Germany between 2009 and 2020.
According to the model, 540 TBE cases nationwide are expected in the current year.
However, one point is not included in this early prognosis.
year |
TBE diseases in Germany |
2020 |
704 |
2019 |
445 |
2018 |
583 |
Source: RKI |
Because as in 2020, the
corona pandemic will
also have an impact on leisure
behavior
in 2021.
Mild weather and rising temperatures will lure many people outside.
Long hikes and other outdoor activities take place in nature in meadows and forests.
"We still need about ten percent corona surcharge," said Rubel.
After
704 TBE diseases
in the past year, Rubel expects a total of around 600 cases in 2021.
But how can people
protect themselves
from
tick bites
and an illness with
TBE and Lyme disease
?
Ticks transmit TBE and Lyme disease: How people can protect themselves from bites
Especially people who live in risk areas where many ticks * are active should be careful.
There is a vaccination
against
TBE
.
Most people infected with TBE remain symptom-free, but in severe cases this viral disease can
lead
to
encephalitis
and damage the spinal cord.
The risk of infection in risk areas varies from region to region.
Overall, according to experts, the probability of a TBE infection after a
tick bite
in a risk area is 1:50 to 1: 100.
People who are outdoors and at risk of
tick bites
should get
vaccinated
.
In risk areas such as Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria, the costs are covered by the health insurance companies.
On the
other hand, there is no vaccination
against
Lyme disease infection
, only caution helps here.
There are a few things to watch out for when you are outdoors for a long time.
Where ticks occur in nature: "When a person comes by, they hold on"
Ticks are
found wherever there are plants.
What many do not know, however, is that ticks do not fall from trees and they cannot jump either.
Instead, they climb
blades of grass
or
bushes
.
"If an animal or a person comes by, it is stripped off on contact and holds on," says the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) website.
The arachnids can therefore be found at a height of less than a meter, often only between 10 and 50 cm above the ground.
However, there are also species that actively crawl towards humans.
Ticks
often bite protected areas on the body so that they do not run the risk of being
torn out
by the
host
. Such places are the head but also on the armpits, elbows, navel, in the genital area or the hollows of the knees. The body should therefore be searched thoroughly after walks in nature. If a tick is found, remove it immediately * and observe the area. If there is a reddening that is getting bigger and bigger, a doctor should be consulted.
Closed clothing and sturdy shoes
provide protection against tick bites
. (svw with dpa)
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.