Ticks are around again

Tick bites (Zeckenstich in German) are mostly harmless, but can transmit diseases in the worst case. These tips can help you protect yourself and your pet.

The beautiful mild weather in the last few weeks and the restrictions due to the Corona virus are currently tempting many people to go for a walk or a jog in the forest or in a green area. But the weather has also caused ticks (Zecken in German) to become active. According to the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH), their season begins in March or April and lasts until November, depending on the weather. Ticks can be found at forest edges, forest clearings, forest paths and hedges of deciduous and mixed woods with lush grass. They are also found on shrubs and bushes, as well as in high grass and bushland. Ticks are therefore widespread in Switzerland. They feed on animal and human blood, and can transmit various pathogens during biting.

What diseases can a tick transmit?
In Switzerland, Lyme disease and early summer meningoencephalitis (FSME) are of particular importance:

• Early summer meningoencephalitis (FSME) is a viral disease transmitted by the bite of an infected tick. The disease is often as harmless as flu, but can lead to meningitis in a few percent of sufferers. Cases have been growing strongly throughout Switzerland for several years - in 2018, the FOPH recorded a record 377 reported cases. With the exception of the cantons of Geneva and Ticino, the whole of Switzerland is a risk area. You can be vaccinated against FSME, and two cases have been registered in the canton of Lucerne this season.
• 5 to 30 percent of the ticks in Switzerland are infected with the Borrelia burgdorferi  bacterium, depending on the region. The Federal Office of Public Health estimates that 10,000 people in Switzerland develop Lyme disease each year. If a red circle forms around the tick bite, you should go to the doctor. A second stage occurs in some patients after weeks, months or years, in which the joints, the nervous system, the skin and rarely the heart can be affected. If it remains unrecognised or is inadequately treated, permanent disabilities may result as a result of Lyme disease. Unlike the FSME, there is no obligation to report Lyme disease and there is no vaccination. There are therefore no figures for the canton of Zug.

An adult female tick on a leaf.

How can I protect myself from a tick bite?
Sonja Bertschy, Senior Physician and Deputy Chief Physician of the Department of Infectiology and Hospital Hygiene of the Lucerne Cantonal Hospital, recommends wearing clothing that closes well and covers your skin when walking in a wood/forest. Light coloured clothing also makes it easier to see any ticks. Undergrowth should be avoided as much as possible, and applying a tick spray before going into natural surroundings can help. After a possible exposure, the skin and hair should be thoroughly searched for ticks.

How do I remove a tick?
Ticks can be carefully removed with tweezers. Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and gradually pull it out. Rotational movements, squeezing or the addition of oil should be avoided. According to Sonja Bertschy, it is important to disinfect the bitten area and to keep an eye on it in the following weeks. If symptoms such as fever or redness occur, a family doctor should be consulted.

Can a tick bite lead to death in pets?
Tick are also a danger for pets, as diseases can be transmitted as in humans. In our latitudes, these are mainly anaplasmosis and Lyme disease. According to Reto Barmettler, head of the Obergrund Veterinary Clinic in Lucerne, ticks with diseases that can lead to a fatal course of the disease in animals are rare in this country. These diseases, especially ehrlichiosis and babesiosis, are more common in southern Europe.

How do I protect my pet?
According to Reto Barmettler, the transmission of tick diseases from the tick to the animal usually takes place only 24 to 36 hours after the bite. He therefore advises checking the pet daily for ticks. When removing the tick, it is important that the head does not remain in the animal. "Otherwise, there could be a local inflammatory response," explains the veterinarian. Dogs are generally more susceptible to tick diseases than cats, and tick protection is recommended as a preventive measure. In the case of the disease arising, antibiotics are also used for treatment in most cases. According to Barmettler, more and more people are coming to the Obergrund veterinary clinic with pets that have been bitten by a tick. "But this is not untypical for this time of year," he says. Every now and then, the head of the tick is still there, or a red bump has formed after the bite. This had to be treated or observed, depending on the severity.