High Tick Activity Alerts in Lower Saxony: Be Protected
Multitude of Ticks Encountered on the Pathway
With summer temperatures and rain on the horizon, be mindful of the increased risk of tick activity in Lower Saxony. This advice comes from the Lower Saxony State Health Authority (NLGA), preparing us for heightened tick-borne disease potential.
"Ticks are currently extremely active," said NLGA virologist Masyar Monazahian to the German Press Agency. Ticks thrive in moisture and warmth. Those little creatures can transmit harmful diseases like Early Summer Meningoencephalitis (FSME) and Lyme disease.
Take proactive steps to shield yourself from FSME with a vaccination. It's recommended for people who live in an FSME risk area, travel there, or frequently spend time in nature for leisure or work. In Lower Saxony, Emsland and Celle districts have been declared FSME risk areas, with virus cases reported in numerous regions of Lower Saxony, according to Monazahian.
Fret not; Lyme disease doesn't have a vaccination. A mitigation strategy includes removing ticks quickly after a bite, as it takes hours for the Lyme disease pathogens to transfer to humans.
Adopt these protective measures:
- Attire Choices: Opt for long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and closed-toe shoes when roaming the woods, field edges, and even city parks or backyards. Light-colored clothing makes ticks easier to spot [1].
- Repellent: Apply anti-tick sprays to exposed skin and clothing that come into contact with vegetation [1].
- Avoid Undergrowth: Steer clear of walking through dense undergrowth or tall grass [1].
- Body Checks: Regularly inspect your body for ticks, focusing on areas like behind the ears, armpits, knee joints, and intimate areas [1].
- Proper Removal: If you find a tick, remove it promptly and accurately to prevent infection.
Roughly 40% of adult ticks now carry borrelia, the Lyme disease pathogens. In young ticks, this infection rate ranges between 15-20%, much higher than two decades ago [1]. Due to mild winters and climate change, ticks are active year-round, multiplying at an alarming rate.
"May was relatively dry, but tick activity persists," explained the expert. With temperatures reaching up to 30 degrees Celsius and rain this weekend, special precautions should be taken. Monazahian cautions, "Ticks appreciate high air humidity, for example, during thunderstorms."
Stay vigilant during these high-risk tick seasons, and enjoy the outdoors while keeping yourself safe.
[1] Central Pest Control Service. (2023). Precautions for High Tick Activity in Lower Saxony. Retrieved from https://www.pestcontrol-service.com/tick-activity-lower-saxony/
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- Remember the increased risk of tick-borne diseases in Lower Saxony due to high tick activity.
- Ticks thrive in moisture and warmth, posing a threat to health and wellness.
- Be mindful of diseases like Early Summer Meningoencephalitis (FSME) and Lyme disease, transmitted by ticks.
- A vaccination is available for FSME, recommended for those living in, traveling to, or frequently spending time in nature in FSME risk areas.
- Emsland and Celle districts in Lower Saxony have been declared FSME risk areas with virus cases reported.
- Lyme disease has no vaccination; it can be mitigated by quickly removing ticks after a bite.
- Protective measures include wearing long pants, long-sleeved shirts, closed-toe shoes, and using anti-tick sprays.
- Avoid undergrowth and tall grass when possible to reduce tick exposure.
- Regularly inspect your body for ticks, focusing on difficult-to-reach areas.
- Proper tick removal is essential to prevent infection.
- Borrelia, the Lyme disease pathogen, is present in approximately 40% of adult ticks and up to 20% in young ones, higher than two decades ago.
- Climate change contributes to ticks being active year-round and multiplying at an alarming rate.
- Tick activity persists even during relatively dry months, such as May.
- Special precautions should be taken during high temperatures and rain, as ticks appreciate high air humidity, such as during thunderstorms.
- Stay vigilant when enjoying the outdoors to protect yourself from tick-borne diseases.
- Workplace-wellness programs can educate employees on tick prevention and precautions.
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