The number of people infected with tick-borne diseases in the Czech Republic, including with Lyme and encephalitis, is at its highest in a decade.
According to the country’s health ministry, from the beginning of the year to the end of June 2024, over 1,200 people have been infected with Lyme disease and 162 with encephalitis.
Tick-borne encephalitis is one of the more dangerous diseases a person can contract. It affects the central nervous system and it can sometimes cause meningitis.
Infectious disease specialist Dita Smíšková from the Department of Infectious Diseases at the Bulovka University Hospital said: “The patient may then suffer from permanent paralysis of the limbs or respiratory muscles.”
This year’s number of attacks is almost double compared to the same period in 2023.
In the southern part of the western region of Bohemia alone, a record of 30 cases of tick-borne diseases was reported in the third holiday week.
Searing temperatures coupled with high humidity make perfect nesting grounds for the parasites to breed. The Czech Republic is home to the largest number of blood-sucking ticks in Europe.
The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute's tick activity forecast warns that there is a high risk of tick attacks increasing.
A vaccine against tick-borne encephalitis is available and it is free in the country for people over 50 years old.
A person can protect themselves from tick bites by covering their limbs when walking in forests and long grasses, and by spraying themselves with bug spray.
Tick-borne encephalitis is one of the more dangerous diseases a person can contract. It affects the central nervous system and it can sometimes cause meningitis.
Infectious disease specialist Dita Smíšková from the Department of Infectious Diseases at the Bulovka University Hospital said: “The patient may then suffer from permanent paralysis of the limbs or respiratory muscles.”
This year’s number of attacks is almost double compared to the same period in 2023.
In the southern part of the western region of Bohemia alone, a record of 30 cases of tick-borne diseases was reported in the third holiday week.
Searing temperatures coupled with high humidity make perfect nesting grounds for the parasites to breed. The Czech Republic is home to the largest number of blood-sucking ticks in Europe.
The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute's tick activity forecast warns that there is a high risk of tick attacks increasing.
A vaccine against tick-borne encephalitis is available and it is free in the country for people over 50 years old.
A person can protect themselves from tick bites by covering their limbs when walking in forests and long grasses, and by spraying themselves with bug spray.
Source: Blesk.cz, Radio Prague International
