A strong decline in the South: Less TBE cases after tick bites

At the site of tick-borne infectious diseases, TBEV are suffering in Germany in the past year, significantly fewer people than in the previous years.

The decline in nationwide Figures, however, almost exclusively to the smaller number of cases in southern Germany, and especially in the southwest, scientists at the University of Hohenheim announced in Stuttgart on Monday.

The reason for this development is puzzling, however, is still.

Decline in the South of Germany remains inexplicable

“After the record-Ticks 2018, with 607 diseases of tick-borne encephalitis has decreased the number of 2019 to 462”, said Gerhard Dobler, the head of the National consultant laboratory for tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) at the Institute for Microbiology of the German armed forces.

The number had decreased in the state of Baden-Württemberg to 115 cases, in Bavaria, to 24 cases. In the other länder, the number had remained the same.

“One explanation for this decline in the South, and the same level in the other länder, the experts do not have to stay,” said Rainer Oehme from the state health office Baden-Württemberg.

“The tick activity was in 2019 with the year of 2018.” There is a vaccination that protects against TBE after a tick bite.

A gallery of images. Local biting insects at a Glance

The all-clear for the Hyalomma tick

A stir had ticks in the past summer, among other messages, the Stuttgart-based scientist Ute Mackenstedt and the Tropics as a possible new source of dangerous infections taken care of.

Now, the researcher gives the all-clear: the so-called Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic fever, and the Arabic Hemorrhagic fever to date were in none of Hyalomma tick was detected, which was sent in the past few months.

After the first finds of the Hyalomma tick and the Brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) in Germany, Mackenstedt had called nearly a year ago to suspect ticks to be sent.

Overall, were investigated according to their data, so far after about 3500 copies, including dozens of Hyalomma ticks.

Warning new exotic tick species

The species of the tick genus Hyalomma are actually, in Africa, Asia and southern Europe, home, show, but, increasingly, also in Germany.

In your actual area of distribution Hyalomma is known to be the causative agent of the so-called Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic fever, to transfer of the Arabic Hemorrhagic fever and tick Typhus.

The experts from Hohenheim warn that exotic tick species with migratory birds to Germany are introduced, develop, host animals infested, and here, too, can overwinter.

You should, therefore, be considered as a possible threat to people and farm animals in Germany.

Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa)

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