Have exotic ticks reached Poland? They can transmit dangerous diseases, this is an important appeal of scientists
Scientists are checking whether dangerous ticks have already reached Poland. They carry a dangerous virus for which no treatment is available. They are asking the public for help.
Ticks are dangerous to humans due to their ability to transmit dangerous diseases, such as Lyme disease or tick-borne encephalitis. When spring begins, we should take great care to protect ourselves in places where they live, i.e. in forests (and their vicinity) and meadows. Now scientists are checking whether dangerous ticks from Africa have already reached our country and are asking for help.
Exotic ticks are dangerous to health
These are exotic Hyalomma ticks, which scientists call “long-legged beasts”. After drinking blood, such a tick can reach up to 2 cm in length. “It runs fast, tracking its prey for up to several hundred meters. It likes the blood of horses, sheep, cattle and dogs (…)” warns Prof. on social media. Anna Bajer from the Department of Eco-Epidemiology of Parasitic Diseases at the Faculty of Biology of the University of Warsaw, adding that they are dangerous to humans because they transmit the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus. Their body color can range from red-brown to almost black, and adult females are up to four times larger than the ticks found in our country.
Hyalomma ticks can pose a very serious threat to human health because they transmit the dangerous Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHFV) virus. The mortality rate of people infected with the virus is high (10-60%) and treatment is unavailable. Nothing is known about the presence of Hyalomma ticks in Poland. The aim of the project is to check whether and where exotic Hyalomma ticks have reached – reads the text of the message published on the website of “Narodowy Szczobranie”.
Scientists' appeal for help
The appearance of such “exotic ticks” is becoming more and more common in Europe. This is due to global warming, which means that they find favorable living conditions. Scientists wonder whether they have already reached Poland. Therefore, they are asking the public for help. The involvement of each person will allow us to update the threats from ticks in our country. What exactly is it supposed to involve? The suspected tick should be sent for testing or a form with a photo of the tick should be sent for identification. Remember that such ticks should be caught with protective gloves. More details about this action can be found on the website nationalkleszczobranie.pl
This will allow you to identify the tick and assess the risk associated with the pathogens it transmits. As a curiosity, it is also worth reading about whether there will be an anti-tick tablet for humans? The new research is really promising.
