Sciensano has more drawing bites than in recent years: you have to do this to avoid them
© Rob Engelaar
In recent weeks, more tick bites have been reported than average in recent years. This is according to figures from the Sciensano Health Institute, which also lists tips to avoid bites.
Source: Belga
Today at 12:34 PM
June is the sign month par excellence. The Sciensano meter that shows how great the risk of tick bites has been in the red for several weeks. That indicates a high risk and a peak period of the drawing season.
The number of reports of tick bites in the spring is higher than in 2024. At that time, the number of reports was clearly lower than in recent years, perhaps a consequence of the heavy rain then, so that people did fewer outdoor activities.
In the past three weeks there were also more reports than average in the past five years. Possibly that is a result of the weather, it sounds at Sciensano. « Ticks need a certain humidity to be active. Considerable weather with rain and sun may have ensured that signs were active and also that people went into nature, » said Laurence Geebelen, researcher at Sciensano. In the case of long -term dry and warm weather, ticks become less active.
Read too. Sciensano has more drawing bites than in recent years: you have to do this to avoid them
Germs
Tick his blood -sucking parasites. A tick bite is usually innocent, but in some cases the tick can be carrier of germs that can be transferred. The most common disease that is transmitted through a tick bite is Lyme Borreliosis, or in short Lyme disease.
Another disease that can be transmitted is drawing cefalitis. That virus is also circulating in our country, but at a low level. In other countries of Europe (including southern Germany and Austria), the risk is much higher and vaccination is recommended for travelers to risk countries when they perform activities in nature.
To avoid tick bites, Sciensano advises to avoid contact with bushes and high grass as much as possible, to wear closed shoes and clothing that cover the skin as much as possible, to wear light -colored clothing and use an insect world on exposed skin. It is also advised to check for tick bites and to remove them as quickly as possible.
Who is bitten, can report it via Drawing net. Sciensano asks to send deleted ticks for research.
