Attention, ticks! Our children threaten new TBE risk areas 2025
Attention, ticks! Our children threaten new TBE risk areas 2025
The tick time has started and the situation becomes more serious than some people think. In the summer of 2025, a particularly strong appearance of these small but dangerous bloodsuckers can be expected. Due to the mild winter, the ticks were already active in January and the first cases of early summer meningoencephalitis (TBE) were registered early in the year. This has consequences for many regions in Germany, including for the Rhineland. According to fris.://www.fr.de/panorama/neue-fsme-risikiete-2025-so-schuetzen-sie-kinder-vor-zecke-zr-93805989.html) 183 circles are now considered TBE risk areas.
Especially for children, the time can be dangerous outdoors, as they often play and stay in areas where ticks lurk. Parents should therefore pay particular attention to their little ones and search them regularly for ticks, especially in typical bite points such as neck, hairline and behind the ears. The children also prefer other parts of the body such as armpits, the navel and buttocks.
What are the risks?
ticks are not only annoying - they can also transmit serious illnesses. The TBE virus and Borrelia in particular that can trigger Lyme disease are to be mentioned here. As reports [WDR, Borrelia are only transferred after 12 to 24 hours after the tick, which means that a quick removal of the ticks is decisive in order to reduce the risk of infection. Ticks should be carefully removed with tweezers or a special tick remover without squeezing them.
As far as protection against TBE is concerned, experts advise you to vaccination, which can already be carried out in children from one year. This consists of three vaccinations, followed by refresher every five years. It is tragic that there is no vaccination against Lyme disease. It is all the more important to rely on preventive measures. Bright clothing helps to recognize ticks more easily, while long clothes and closed shoes offer additional protection.
rising cases in Europe
The problem is not limited to Germany. In Sweden, for example, the number of TBE cases has doubled in recent years. This shows that TBE and other diseases transmitted by ticks are an increasing problem in the northern hemisphere. The researchers of the Institute for Parasitology of the Veterinary University Hanover Foundation have found this development for the first time and draw attention to the fact that mild winter and the climate crisis are responsible for the year -round activity of the ticks.
So what can we do? In addition to checking and searching our children after a day outdoors, it is just as important to find out about the symptoms of a possible Lyme disease. At the latest in the disseminated stage, the pathogens can spread in the body and bring with them such as paralysis or nerve pain. Especially with young children, recurring fever and weakness can also be signs that something went wrong with a tick bite. Inflammation of the heart or even psychological symptoms in older children should also not be underestimated (RUV).
Together we should work to protect our children and sensitize through this tick time. A little caution can do a lot.
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| Ort | Elbe-Elster, Deutschland |
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