BILTHOVEN (AP) – The number of diagnoses of Lyme disease, caused by the bite of an infected tick and recognizable by a red ring or spot on the skin, was as high in the most recent measurement in 2021 as in the penultimate count in 2017. In 2021, doctors saw such a red ring or spot 25,600 times. “For the first time since the first measurement in 1994, this number did not increase,” said RIVM health institute on Thursday.
There were also fewer consultations with GPs in connection with a tick bite. “This may be related to the general decrease in GP visits during the COVID-19 pandemic,” says RIVM. However, that is not certain.
The largest number of diagnoses was found in the last measurement in the north and east of our country, especially in Drenthe and Groningen.
Expect tick bites
Each year, approximately 1.5 million ticks strike throughout the Netherlands. This leads to symptoms in two to three out of a hundred people. “Many tick bites are also expected in the coming weeks. It is therefore now extra important to check for ticks when you are in the woods, dunes, park or garden,” warns the institute. On Tekenradar.nl, the number of tick bite reports has already “increased sharply” in recent weeks.
Lyme disease is caused by a bacteria. About one in five ticks carries the bacteria. Not everyone who is infected has the same symptoms. For example, Lyme can cause muscle and joint pain, nerve complaints or heart complaints. This can be prevented with early administration of antibiotics.
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2023-07-14 12:02:21
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