Ticks and mosquitoes transmit exotic diseases, RKI boss warns
Created: 08/17/2022, 2:00 p.m
By: Ines Alms
Climate change could lead to the spread of exotic diseases in Germany that mosquitoes and ticks bring with them.
You can feel it: the summers in Germany are getting warmer and longer.
You can find that nice because you can spend more time in the great outdoors and in the garden.
On the other hand, you often have to pick up the watering can and watch out for insects.
Because according to Lothar Wieler, head of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), climate change favors the spread of tropical diseases that are transmitted by mosquitoes or ticks.
RKI boss warns: Ticks and mosquitoes transmit exotic diseases
A newly hatched common mosquito: widespread and possible vector of disease.
© blickwinkel/Imago
Whether malaria, the Zika, dengue or the West Nile virus - the names of the exotic diseases read eerily to unknown and yet we could hear them more often in the future due to global warming in Germany, RKI boss Wieler fears: "Lots of mosquitoes - and tick species can transmit viral, bacterial and parasitic infectious agents.”
For example, the West Nile virus was first detected in birds and horses in Germany in 2018 and since then mosquito-borne infections in humans have also been known in Germany.
The mosquitoes (Culex), which are widespread throughout Germany, can be carriers.
Mild winters increase the tick population
As Wieler explains to the
Funke media group
, the multiplication of viruses in mosquitoes is temperature-dependent, so that higher temperatures over longer periods of time increase the likelihood of infections from mosquito bites.
Climate change is leading to an expansion of the habitats of mosquitoes and ticks in Germany.
In the future, you no longer have to travel to Africa to be confronted with malaria, because if you don't fly to the mosquito yourself, the mosquito might fly to the garden in Wanne-Eickel.
According to the RKI, climate change is also leading to mild and wet winters and warmer springs in some regions.
This could increase the period of tick activity and increase its density.
It can also be assumed that the fauna of ticks has changed regionally: new tick species show different behavior and can transmit new pathogens.
To protect yourself from mosquitoes and ticks, you can take the following measures:
Grow plants in the garden or on the balcony that scare away the animals with their smell, for example the frankincense plant or the curry herb against mosquitoes.
The insects also do not like fragrant herbs such as lavender, basil or lemongrass.
The
Tropical Institute
recommends pulling socks over pants and wearing light-colored clothing: on the one hand, small black animals such as ticks are easier to see, on the other hand, dark, heat-storing clothing seems to attract mosquitoes.
Showering helps: Mosquitoes like sweat better than shower gel.
Beneficial creatures such as moles & Co. have pests on their menu.
Anyone who settles them or lets them live in the garden will receive animal assistance.
After a stay in nature, check thoroughly for ticks and carefully remove the animals immediately.
You can find even more exciting garden topics in the free 24garten.de newsletter, which you can subscribe to here.
If you don't have a problem with smelling a bit strong yourself, insect repellent against ticks and mosquitoes will of course also help on exposed areas of skin.
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