Teck alarm in Thuringia: rising Borreliosis cases and new risks!

Teck alarm in Thuringia: rising Borreliosis cases and new risks!

in Thuringia, where nature blooms magnificently, a worrying development is currently spreading: the number of Borreliosis cases has risen sharply. By the end of June 2023, 137 cases have already been reported, a sudden increase compared to the 101 cases in the previous year, such as Thueringen24.de reported. Borreliosis, a disease transmitted by infected ticks, can lead to serious health problems, especially if the heart is affected.

Early summer meningoencephalitis (TBE), which is also transmitted by tick bites, remains a serious topic. Five designated cases were recorded this year, a minimal decline compared to the six cases of the previous year. While TBE is harmless in most cases, the disease can be fatal in the worst case. That is why the constant vaccination commission (STIKO) recommends vaccination in 13 specific risk areas in Thuringia, such as in Altenburger Land and around Jena. This recommendation is particularly important for people who are often on the move in nature, where the risk of a tick bite is high.

dangerous contemporaries and their spread

The common wooden stone, until now the main suspect under the ticks, now gets competition from the Hyalomma tick. These newcomers, who mainly come from Africa and Asia, are larger and have the worrying ability to pursue their prey. So far, however, cases in Germany are rare, but the parasitologist Ute Mackenstedt warns of a possible nationwide risk of TBE and other infections that can be transmitted by these ticks.

Another aspect that gives rise to concern are the climatic changes. According to WDR , ticks are active all year round, which is due to the mild winters and the favorable conditions for their reproduction. These developments show that the TBE risk areas are increasingly spreading north. Researchers at the Institute of Parasitology of the Veterinary University Hanover Foundation therefore observe the increasing figures of TBE cases, especially in the Scandinavian countries, where the cases have doubled in recent years.

prevention is the key

What can Thuringian: do it to protect yourself? Thuringia Forst recommends staying on the ways when excursions into nature, wearing long sleeves and trouser legs and using special ways of giving up. A careful check after staying outdoors on ticks can also help minimize the risk of infection.

The situation is alarming and it is to be hoped that responsible measures can be protected by the health of the population. Borreliosis and TBE are not easy topics, but with caution and information you can encounter the dreaded little bloodsuckers.

For more information about Borreliose cases and their developments in Thuringia, also visit Tag24.de .