Lower Franconia: High tick number increases TBE risk-vaccination recommended!

Lower Franconia: High tick number increases TBE risk-vaccination recommended!

In the past few weeks, a particularly active hustle and bustle of ticks has been observed in Lower Franconia. The warm temperatures of the past few months have led the little bloodsuckers to be in droves. For example, meincharivari.de that the region is considered a high-risk area for the transmission of diseases such as TSME (early summer mening) and borreliosis. So far, however, there have been no registered TBE infections this year.

The Lower Franconian general practitioner association reports that the tick number is particularly high this year, which is not least due to the mild winter. An example pleasant? In a practice in Mainstockheim, 20 ticks were removed alone on Monday. This shows that awareness of tick bites in the population is growing and people are increasingly informed.

disease risks in view

TSME should not be underestimated. This virus disease manifests itself with symptoms such as fever and headache and, in the worst case, can lead to meningitis. A bright spot: A vaccination against TBE is available that general practitioners can offer easily - often even without an appointment. The Bavarian State Office for Health and Food Safety (LGL) strongly recommends this vaccination to protect itself in TBE risk areas.

tick types in focus

What many do not know: There are different ticks in Germany, including the hyalomma ticks that are common in some regions of Asia, Africa and Southeast Europe. This type of tick has been proven in some regions of Germany since 2007 and is rarely found there. According to rki get the larvae and nymphs to us and then develop into adult ticks in summer.

It is particularly noteworthy that these Hyalomma ticks can transmit the Crimea Congo virus, which causes the Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic fever. Despite this potential danger, the virus in Germany does not occur in game or farm animals, which is indeed soothing. Nevertheless, it is recommended to send found Hyalomma ticks to the Robert Koch Institute to learn more about their distribution.

prevention and protective measures

It is advisable to protect yourself well during the tick season. The period from April to September is the main season for ticks, whereby they become active as soon as the temperatures are between 8 and 10 degrees Celsius. But even after rain, they can be found increasingly because they prefer moist environments.

To avoid tick bites, you should protect yourself accordingly in nature: long clothing, bright colors for better detection of the ticks and the use of repellents can help. And if you make a victim of a tick bite, it is important to remove the tick with a special tick pliers as soon as possible and to make sure that the mouth tools do not stay in the skin.