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Entomologists at the U.S. Army Public Health Command Region-Europe are reporting an early season for ticks this year.
They are already seeing significant numbers of ticks in the field.
Ticks present the greatest vector-borne disease risk in Europe. They carry and can transmit a host of diseases to people and animals. Since 2001, the incidence of Lyme disease has been on a steady increase in Europe.
Though summer in Europe lends itself to outdoor activities, one little blood-sucking tick can spoil it all.
Lyme disease
Lyme disease is the most frequent tick-borne disease in Europe. A person with Lyme disease may develop fever, headache, fatigue and a skin rash called erythema migrans. This rash is sometimes referred to as a “bulls-eye” rash because of its red circular appearance. As it continues to grow, it will often lose the redness in the center of the rash.
If the disease is left untreated, it can worsen and cause swelling of the brain, facial paralysis and pain and numbness in the hands, feet or other areas of the body.
In most cases, Lyme disease can be treated with antibiotics. No vaccine against Lyme disease is currently available, so tick awareness is the most important prevention measure.
Prevention
In areas where ticks are prevalent, these precautions are advised:
• Avoid waste high vegetation and wild game trails located in and near forested areas. People are most likely to come into contact with ticks during spring and early fall when ticks are most active.
• Wear light-colored clothing. This makes it easier to see crawling ticks.
• Wear long pants and tuck them into boots or socks. Shirts should be tucked into pants at the waist.
• Wear clothing that is treated with insect repellents. Many outdoor companies now sell outdoor clothing pre-treated with permethrin to repel ticks and other biting arthropods. For all other outdoor clothing, spray them with an insect repellent containing DEET. These sprays are sold at most convenience stores.
• Apply insect repellents containing DEET to exposed skin as directed by the product label.
• Check yourself and your children carefully for ticks after outdoor activities. Pay close attention to warm, moist areas of the body and to your head.
• Avoid consuming unpasteurized dairy products (milk or cheese). Diseases transmitted by ticks, such as Tick-borne Encephalitis, are often found in raw dairy products.
Tick removal
To properly remove an embedded tick, use fine-tipped tweezers to firmly grasp the tick’s head as close to the skin as possible, and pull up in a smooth, steady motion. Avoid jerking, twisting or pinching off the head, as this may break off the tick mouth parts and cause secondary infections. After removing the tick, clean the area with soap and water and apply an antiseptic.
Avoid home remedies, such as hot matches, fire, fingernail polish or other extreme methods to remove ticks. These techniques may cause the attached tick to regurgitate into the host.
After removing ticks, stay alert for signs of tick-borne diseases. If a tick bite is followed by flu-like symptoms and/or a skin rash, promptly see your primary care provider for evaluation.
Ticks on pets
Ticks can also transmit diseases to pets. There are several products, such as topical flea and tick medications and prescription collars, available to protect pets from ticks. Contact the local veterinary clinic for the best product to use. Never use repellents containing DEET on pets.
Pets with protective collars may still carry ticks. These ticks are most likely dead or dying.
Tick removal from pets is the same as for people. If the pet is too excitable or if help is needed, call your local veterinary clinic for assistance.
To find out more about ticks and tick-borne diseases, visit the U.S. Army Public Health Command (Provisional) Web site at http://phc.amedd.army.mil.
(Editor’s note: USAPHCR-Europe’s Col. Eric Shuping and Lt. Col. Greg Saturday contributed to this article.)
