Ticks cannot only be infected with the infamous Borelia virus, which leads to Lyme disease. They can also tick-borne encephalitis, also known as TBE. This virus is increasingly common in ticks in Europe, according to the latest figures from the European Center for Disease Control.
Since 2016 in the Netherlands
In the Netherlands, the first infection with the TBE virus was detected in 2016. The virus has now been found in 9 of the 24 GGD regions. “At the moment there are a few cases per year. But as the number is increasing in Europe, this could also happen in the Netherlands”, Arnold van Vliet, biologist at Wageningen University, tells EditieNL.
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Contamination does not have to be serious. “Most people don’t notice it. Sometimes it leads to a flu or a fever. But in extreme cases it can cause meningitis.”
Pfizer-vaccine
The good news: A Pfizer TBE vaccine is already available. “It is an option for people who spend a lot of time in nature or who go to countries where this virus is common,” said a Pfizer spokesperson. “Work is also underway on a vaccine against Lyme disease.”
However, according to biologist Arnold van Vliet, the Dutch do not have to consider the TBE vaccine yet. “Vaccinations are taking place in Austria and Southern Germany, but here we are still in the research phase to find out exactly how much the virus occurs.”
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The biologist advises everyone to pay special attention. “You can encounter ticks everywhere in the greenery. Most of them occur in the Veluwe, in the wooded areas and in the dunes. But a third of tick bites are caught in the garden.”
Lars van Driel, first aid instructor at the Red Cross, emphasizes to be alert in cities as well. “I live and work in a wooded area. The people here pay close attention to it. But sometimes I wonder whether people in a city like Amsterdam realize that there are also ticks in the Vondelpark”, he tells EditieNL.
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How do you remove a tick?
Lars van Driel sees that many people remove the tick in the wrong way. Therefore a number of tips:
- Do not disinfect beforehand, but afterwards. The moment you disinfect the area with the tick inside, the tick can dry out and it will be more difficult to remove.
- Do not use tweezers.
- Read the packaging of the tick remover carefully. They work differently; with one you have to turn, the other pull and slide another.
- No tools nearby? If the tick isn’t too deeply ingrained, you can use a band-aid to pry it off.
- The sooner the tick is out, the better. So preferably put a tick remover in the first aid kit in the car, or keep one with you.
- After a bite, it is wise to put a circle around it and write the date in your phone or calendar. Watch to see if the red spot is getting bigger. If so, contact your doctor right away.
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