Ticks are spreading more and more in Switzerland

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The little ones are almost invisible. On the other hand, they can cause big problems and transmit nasty diseases such as Lyme disease or triggering meningitis. Of particular concern: ticks are already particularly active this year, with temperatures starting at seven degrees. Annoying creatures had already been reported from the second half of February. They first thawed at mild temperatures and found mice to serve as hosts.

“For the tick not to survive the winter, you need really sharp low temperatures, sometimes for weeks,” said Ute Mackenstedt of the University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart. Ticks are also active during the winter months, as temperatures as low as minus 15 degrees Celsius are becoming increasingly rare even in the Alps due to climate change.

The parasitologist warned that as a result of mild winters, ticks “are active early in the year or even active all year round.” Stable populations of ticks are even found in mountainous areas up to 1,200 meters above sea level. “Ticks no longer take a winter break.”

Norbert Satz, a tick diseases doctor from Zurich, explains: “In autumn, small animals nurse for the last time before they go into hibernation, which is very important for them, where they freeze deep. This way they save energy. They perish in mild winters.”

When are ticks particularly dangerous?

Old rule: the better the weather, the more bites. “Ticks benefit from the fact that many people dress lightly and recklessly go into the woods in hot weather,” says the doctor. The wood tick is the most common type of tick in Europe. It prefers deciduous forests with lush vegetation, forest edges and paths, and lurks in short plants to hunt. From there, he passes by his two- and four-legged friends, allowing himself to be robbed. Parasites are attracted by smell.

Most of the pathogens are carried by the smallest ticks called nymphs. They are only half a millimeter in size and have several hosts.

Tick ​​risk areas in Switzerland

Ticks breed almost everywhere in Switzerland, with the exception of mountainous areas. They occur up to an altitude of about 1500 meters above sea level. One out of every three ticks carries the borreliosis pathogen and the number is increasing. Unlike tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), which can cause meningitis, vaccination against Lyme disease is not possible. That’s why attention is the best medicine.

What to do with a tick bite?

A TBE infection can also cause very atypical symptoms, so there is a risk of misdiagnosis, especially in children. The most well-known symptoms are the brain and meningitis, but summer flu symptoms such as fever, headache or vomiting, and even intestinal symptoms could possibly indicate a TBE infection. Of those infected, 98 percent were not vaccinated or were only incompletely vaccinated.

horse meningitis Associated symptoms are neck stiffness, confusion, and paralysis. Residual symptoms such as fatigue, lack of concentration, memory problems, headaches, sleep disturbances and dizziness can last for weeks or months. In most cases, the symptoms regress. However, in severe cases, residual damage may remain or the disease may even be fatal.

Source : Blick