Lyme disease and TBE: experts expect this year with lots of ticks

Experts believe that many ticks, So protect yourself

Due to the mild temperatures, experts expect this season with lots of ticks. The little blood suckers can transmit dangerous infectious diseases such as TBE or Lyme disease. However, a few tips can help you get without a tick bite through the year.

Strong tick season expected

The past year has set the woods, the ticks, however, have benefited from it. Because of the higher temperatures and the mild winters of the last years have favored the local ticks and the spread of new types of led, is expected in 2019 and again a strong tick season. The schutzgemeinschaft Deutscher Wald (SDW) indicates in a message. Critical of the enormous increase of the tick population is especially because small animals can transmit dangerous diseases such as tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) and Lyme disease.

Experts expect because of the mild weather, a strong tick season in 2019. Ticks can transmit dangerous diseases, such as TBE or Lyme disease. But you can protect yourself from them. (Image: Marco2811/fotolia.com)

Against TBE can be protected by a vaccination

In about a third of the TBE-Infected disease symptoms occur.

First of all, it comes to flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, vomiting, and dizziness.

In some patients, a brain is formed of the skin and inflammation of the brain with the risk of damage to the spinal cord. In the extreme case, the disease is fatal.

Against TBE you can get vaccinated. According to health experts, vaccination against TBE should be done in a timely manner prior to the early summer, because between the three Impfterminen time must elapse.

If this inflammation of the brain remains undetected, it can lead to permanent neurological damage, mental changes and even death.

Therefore, the SDW people, residing professionally in designated risk areas and risk groups such as elderly, chronically ill people to vaccination.advises

Among the TBE-risk areas of southern Germany, as well as areas in Hesse and Thuringia.

Also people in the popular tourist regions of Austria, Scandinavia or Northern Italy vacation, should be vaccinated.

The disease can be fatal

Lyme disease begins when people are symptomatic, often with the so-called wall redness (Erythema migrans) around the tick bite. It does not occur but in the case of all Concerned.

Among the other signs of symptoms such as fatigue, night sweats, fever, and nonspecific joint, among other things, General and muscle pain.

Anyone who noticed any of these symptoms after a tick bite, you should definitely go to a doctor.

If the disease remains undiagnosed and untreated, it can lead to chronic damage to, among other things, of the heart, the nerves, and of the joints and in the worst case, to death.

A vaccine against the disease.

Nationwide, approximately every third tick carrying Borrelia bacteria and can transfer it to the sting on your victim.

Crucial for quick Removal here, because the pathogens in the Mediterranean are the gut of the tick and only after twelve to 24 hours on humans.

Dissemination of new species of Ticks

A new risk the proliferation and Survival of new tick species, which are favored by climate change, is the SDW warns.

The riparian forest is spreading from the East, from tick further and further to Germany, which can trigger human spotted fever in dogs and Malaria.

Also sub-tropical ticks, the most dangerous infectious diseases such as Crimean-Congo spread the Virus, for the first time in the area of Hannover, Osnabrück and the Wetterau spotted.

Earlier ticks from spring to autumn. With the mild winter temperatures, the animals are now even in the winter months. In General, it is expected from April to September, with a risk of infection.

Without a tick bite through the year

The German forest protection Association has a few tips on how you can protect yourself from tick and without a tick-bite by the year:

Locations of the tick to avoid: the one Who remains on a light and low-vegetation, forest trails, reduced the ticks on contact significantly. Avoid the bushes, under wood or enough uncut meadows, and not to rest on the edge of the forest, to the haystack and in the dense undergrowth!

Further, the experts advise to Wear a closed and light-colored clothes. The skin should be largely covered. Sturdy shoes or rubber boots, long trousers and tops with long Sleeves will make the tick difficult. Light-colored clothes to recognize ticks faster.

Also protection Tick protection. In addition to commercially available tick protection products there are also natural substances such as lavender and clove oil, which can lessen the risk of tick infestation. Lavender oil should be poured on shoes and stockings.

After a walk you should throats as quickly as possible, the clothes and the whole body, especially the knees, armpits, and in the step for ticks. Garments, especially stockings, should be changed.

Ticks crawling on the clothing and search for free skin and warm the body. But be careful: Young animals are very small (0.5 mm) and to discern between the hair.

The faster you remove the tick from the body, the lower the risk of infection. The blood suckers never with Oil, glue or cream before Removing choked, but with a tick remover, tick noose, and tick card or your finger nails removed.

It grabs the tick at your proboscis directly to the surface of the skin and levered it gently. A Squeezing of the tick must be avoided, otherwise the risk of infection increases. The puncture should be washed with alcohol and disinfected.

Also, Pets are to be protected by appropriate means from the pharmacy or from the veterinarian.

In addition, dogs and cats should be after a stay in the Free necessarily on the tick-searched. (ad)