Europe Issues 5-Step Tick Bite Advice as Peak Season Raises Lyme and TBE Risks

2 articles · Updated · Euronews · Aug 17

Europe’s peak tick season has prompted public advice urging people to keep outdoor activities but cut bite risk with simple precautions.
Long sleeves, trousers tucked into socks, approved repellent and sticking to clear paths can reduce exposure in forests, parks, gardens and other vegetated areas from spring through autumn.
Post-walk checks are a second line of defense: inspect the whole body — especially skin folds, groin, armpits, waist and backs of knees — and check children’s heads and necks as well as pets.
Attached ticks should be removed quickly with fine-tipped tweezers, pulling straight up; early removal matters because Lyme disease is unlikely to be transmitted within the first few hours.
Lyme disease is bacterial and usually treatable with antibiotics, while tick-borne encephalitis is viral, has no specific treatment and is best prevented through vaccination.