Ticks stay all the time on meadows and in forests, this misconception continues to persist.
The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) warns, however, that the ticks stop, in the meantime, in urban areas, to search for a suitable host.
Risk areas are mainly located in southern Germany, but also other Parts of the Republic. In the last year, the Emsland in lower Saxony, was the first North German area at risk.
Also in this year, the risk areas on other parts of Germany.
Three new risk areas in Germany
A total of 164 at-risk areas in Germany, mainly the Federal States of Bavaria and Baden have-Württemberg is a high risk of infection with TBE.
However, the infected ticks are now for the first time in the district of Schmalkalden-Meiningen in the German Federal state of Thuringia. In addition, the RKI warns of Meißen, in Saxony, the district and the city district of Dresden against an increased risk of Infection.
Since ticks are already starting from a temperature of 7 degrees Celsius active, you should already take first precautions to protect against TBE.
What TBE is?
Under the early-summer-meningoencephalitis (in short: TBE) is a viral disease that is mainly transmitted to humans by ticks, and the brain and the Central nervous system affects.
Particularly in high-risk areas, the risk of contagion is high – approximately two percent of all living ticks carry the Virus and are looking for a host to food – to be incorporated in the Form of blood.
The longer the tick remains on your host, the higher the risk of infection with the Virus is.
Between the actual infection and the Occurrence of possible symptoms for several weeks can.
Therefore, especially people living in high-risk areas, but also inhabitants of less-affected areas to ensure, as a precautionary measure for a sufficient protection against ticks.
Vaccinations for high-risk areas
The Robert Koch Institute advises residents of the risk areas as a precaution against TBE should be vaccinated. The cost of the vaccination, the respective health insurance company bears entirely.
Outside of possible risk precautions should be taken to prevent a tick bite areas. These bright and long clothing, but also insect-repellent Sprays that counts.
In addition, a control of one’s own body is recommended to stay Outdoors, so you can see a tick in case of doubt, at an early stage and remove it.
TBE: the Unknown symptoms and consequences
No symptoms at all to death – TBE can also be Affected very differently. Generally, one expects an incubation period of several weeks, until the first symptoms can occur.
Initially, the TBE does not differ from a typical summer flu and causes, therefore, symptoms such as fever, headache or limb pain. Particularly in this period of time Concerned is often of no serious risk.
Only later in the course the virus will attack the Central nervous system and cause significant damage to the body.
In the mildest case, the patient will develop a brain inflammation of the skin, accompanied by fever and a severe headache.
In the worst case, it comes to a brain and spinal cord inflammation of the entire brain and the nervous system are affected, to language and consciousness can lead to disorders up to paralysis.
In this case, with severe and permanent neurological consequences, which limit the Affected in your everyday life.
Currently, there are no drugs to treat TBE. Therefore, symptoms can only relieve and infection by early vaccination to prevent it.
Source
- Zecken.de: What TBE is?, archived from the original on 24.02.2020: https://www.zecken.de/de/was-ist-fsme