Tick season has started early this year. When the temperature reaches 7 degrees disease-carrying ticks spring back into action.
Ticks spread nasty diseases such as Lyme disease and Tick-borne encephalitis. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Lyme disease, a bacterial infection, is common in Europe, where around 35,000 cases were reported in 2010. Tick-borne encephalitis, while less common, has increased 400% over the last 30 years according to the European centre for disease control and prevention, and is present in Switzerland according to WHO.
Typical Lyme disease symptoms include a specific type of skin rash, often accompanied by fever, headache and fatigue. Without antibiotic treatment, the infection can spread to the joints, the heart and the nervous system.
Tick-borne encephalitis symptoms may induce an influenza-like illness followed, in about 30% of cases, by high fever and problems related to the central nervous system. During the second phase the symptoms can develop into paralysis, and even death. WHO says 10,000 to 12,000 clinical cases of tick-borne encephalitis are reported each year, but thinks this figure is significantly lower than the actual total. Tick-borne encephalitis is a virus and vaccines are available.
The risk of getting such diseases can be reduced by avoiding ticks. The most effective ways to avoid tick bites include wearing long trousers and long-sleeved shirts, and using insect repellents on the skin and clothing. Checking for ticks is also important. When found they should be properly removed as soon as possible. Removal should be done with a specially designed tool or pointed tweezers according to UK-based Lyme disease action. The aim is to remove all parts of the tick’s body while avoiding releasing more of the tick’s saliva or stomach contents into the bite wound.
Ticks like scrub, long grass and thickets so avoiding these areas can reduce the risks too.
Every year Swiss insurers record around 9,700 reported tick bites according to national accident insurer Suva. The total annual cost of dealing with these bites comes to CHF 7.7 million. 57% of incidents involve men, mainly during leisure activities – 4,400 of the total. 1,100 occur at home or in the garden, 330 while jogging and 700 during other sporting activities such as horse riding, mountain biking and hunting.