A video published by a forest district in western Poland, showing a forester’s trousers covered in ticks, illustrates the alarming spread of these parasites in local forests.
The footage, which was published on the Facebook fan page of the Turek Forest District shortly before the start of spring, shows how rising temperatures and mild winters extend the active season for the dangerous animal.
“Climate change is leading to an increase in ticks, not only in Poland but also in neighboring countries. Their distribution area is also increasing,” Professor Joanna Zajkowska from the Department of Infectious Diseases and Neuroinfection at the Medical University of Białystok warned earlier this week.
Experts warn that ticks pose a serious health risk as they can transmit dangerous and sometimes fatal diseases such as tick-borne encephalitis and Lyme disease, cases of which have risen sharply in recent years in Poland.
Foresters advise hikers to wear long-sleeved clothing and to check their bodies thoroughly after spending time in deciduous forests to minimize the risk of tick bites.
They also encourage awareness of tick-borne diseases, as early detection and treatment, as well as vaccination, are crucial to prevent serious complications.
In Poland, 19 species of ticks occur naturally, of which the castor bean tick is the most common. Its bite is painless, which makes early detection difficult.
