The Verkhnedvinsk District Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology informs
The tick season is approaching in the Republic of Belarus.
In recent years, entomological observations have indicated an early activation of these arthropods, which is determined by climate change. Annually, with the onset of spring and air temperatures rising above +50C, ticks begin to activate after their "winter dormancy" and remain active until November. They are carriers of a number of infectious diseases, among which tick-borne encephalitis and Lyme disease are most frequently registered among the population. The pathogens causing these diseases are transmitted from the tick to the human body.
Tick-borne encephalitis is a focal natural, acute viral disease with predominant damage to the central nervous system. The disease manifests as chills, nausea, headache, dizziness, and aching muscle pain. The fever lasts for 4-5 days, after which it subsides. However, after 1-2 weeks, severe headaches, fever, pain along the spine, stiffness of the neck muscles, a feeling of stupor, and convulsions appear. The period from the moment of a tick bite by a tick infected with the tick-borne encephalitis virus to the appearance of symptoms usually ranges from 4 to 30 days. Furthermore, one can contract tick-borne encephalitis by consuming raw infected milk (most often goat's milk), as well as by crushing the tick at the bite site.
Lyme disease (Lyme borreliosis) is a focal disease of bacterial origin, prone to chronicity, affecting the skin, joints, heart, and nervous system. The first symptom of the disease is the appearance of a pink spot at the site of the tick bite, which gradually increases in diameter. The period from the bite to the appearance of the first symptoms can be up to 30 days. Chronic manifestations in the form of neurological disorders, damage to the cardiovascular system, and the musculoskeletal system can occur several months or even years after the bite of an infected tick.
It is important to remember that ticks prefer shaded and humid deciduous and mixed forests with dense grass and undergrowth. The highest concentration of ticks is found on grass along the edges of forest paths and trails. In the Vitebsk region, ticks are widespread. A tick can detect a human scent from a distance of up to 10 meters and attacks from vegetation up to 1 meter high. The highest tick activity is observed at 9:00 AM and 8:00 PM. Tick bites are usually painless and go almost unnoticed by humans. Preferred tick attachment sites include the head, neck, armpits, chest, and groin folds.
In 2024, 25 people sought medical attention in the district's healthcare organizations due to tick bites, including 2 children under 17 years of age. Two cases of Lyme disease were registered.
How to protect yourself from tick attacks:
- When visiting forests, wear a hat and light-colored clothing that covers exposed skin as much as possible and prevents ticks from entering through the collar, sleeves, and pant legs;
- Apply special tick-repellent products (repellents) to clothing or exposed skin, following the instructions strictly;
- Conduct thorough self-examinations and mutual checks every 1-2 hours while in the forest and immediately after leaving the forest to detect and remove any crawling insects and ticks from clothing. Carefully inspect clothing and skin. Pets should also be examined after forest walks;
- Do not bring flowers, branches, cones, or other vegetation from the forest into your home, as you may inadvertently bring ticks with them;
- When camping or resting in the forest, choose well-lit and sun-warmed areas (clearings) with sparse vegetation (ticks cannot tolerate direct sunlight);
- Raw goat milk must be boiled before consumption.
If you have been bitten by a tick:
If you find an attached tick on your body, seek medical attention at your local healthcare facility for its removal and to receive emergency chemoprophylaxis. It is crucial to seek help as soon as possible, as the maximum preventive effect is achieved only if emergency prophylaxis is initiated within the first 72 hours after the tick bite.
If it is not possible to seek medical attention, the tick should be removed independently by any available method:
- using specialized commercially manufactured tick removal devices, according to the instructions for use;
- using a cotton thread - tie a knot as close as possible to the proboscis of the attached tick; extract the tick by pulling it upwards with circular motions, without sudden movements;
- using tweezers - carefully pull the tick by the abdomen, gently rocking it with the tweezers; usually, after 1-3 rotations, the tick is removed whole;
- using a needle - extract the tick like a splinter.
The tick must be removed whole; do not allow the abdomen to detach from the head. After removing the tick, the bite site should be treated with any alcohol-containing agent, and you should still seek medical attention for prophylactic treatment.
Tick testing for Lyme borreliosis is carried out in the microbiological laboratory of the State Institution "Vitebsk Regional Center for Hygiene, Epidemiology and Public Health" at the address: Vitebsk, Zhestkova St., 25, office 102. Working hours: Monday - Friday, 830 - 1600,
tel. 8-0212-37-21-19, 8-0212-37-96-74.