Mild winter weather could potentially foster an increase in tick populations.

Ticks on the Rise: The Impact of Mild Winters on Bavaria

Increased tick activity following mild winter conditions? - Mild winter weather could potentially foster an increase in tick populations.

Let's chat about those pesky ticks that seem to be lurking everywhere this year, especially in Bavaria. Gerhard Dobler, from the Institute of Microbiology of the German Armed Forces in Munich, reckons the reason for this surge is the mild winter that allowed many ticks to not only survive but thrive.

According to Dobler and his team, they've been collecting ticks for years from risk areas in Eastern Bavaria, examining them for FSME viruses and other pathogens. This season, they've seen a record number of the common wood tick since March. The wood tick is the most common European tick species, and it appears to have made a comeback in several regions, such as Allgäu, Baden-Württemberg, and Saxony.

It's not only Bavaria feeling the tick invasion—look at this year's Rock im Park music festival. Visitors to the event over Pentecost weekend in Nuremberg had quite a shock when they made a whopping 145 trips to the Bavarian Red Cross for help with tick bites. That's almost double the number from the previous year!

However, it's tough to make a blanket statement about tick activity for the entirety of Bavaria. That's because numerous factors, including temperature, humidity, local fauna, and flora, play significant roles in the tick population. The Bavarian State Office for Health and Food Safety (LGL) explains that since there are no precise investigations, there are no reliable data to confirm if there are indeed more ticks this year.

Aside from being a general nuisance, ticks can transmit harmful diseases, such as Lyme disease and early summer meningoencephalitis (FSME). Almost the entirety of Bavaria is now considered an FSME risk area, so experts suggest getting vaccinated.

Fun fact: The number of Lyme disease infections has seen a significant increase this year compared to last, with almost 820 cases recorded in comparison to around 670 at the same time last year. On the other hand, the number of FSME infections decreased from 50 to around 30 in the same period.

Thanks to climate change, various tick species are appearing in Germany. Take, for instance, the bush tick that has been spreading here for decades but is still relatively uncommon. These bacteria-carrying creatures can cause infections like tularemia and spotted fever. The Hyalomma tick, native to Asia, Africa, and southern Europe, has been found in Germany as well. Although they've yet to establish a steady presence across the country, experts are keeping a close eye on these potential disease transmitters.

Not to worry, though. No cases of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), a potentially fatal virus that Hyalomma ticks can transmit, have been detected in any of those found and examined in Germany so far. However, it's a different story in Italy, where the ticks have been proven to transmit a form of spotted fever.

Lastly, don't forget those sneaky brown dog ticks that often hitchhike back from vacation as unwanted souvenirs on pets. The ticks only reproduce in protected spaces, like dog houses or their owners' homes. Dobler points out that although this species isn't spreading rapidly, they can be easily transported from one dog to another.

• Terms: Tick, Bavaria, Gerhard Dobler, TBE, Rock im Park, Munich, Germany, Spring, German Armed Forces, Eastern Bavaria, Allgäu, Baden-Württemberg, Music Festival, Nuremberg, Bavarian Red Cross, Lyme Disease, FSME, Mild Winters, Climate Change

Interesting Tick Factoids:

1. Climate Influence: Mild winters can lead to higher tick populations as ticks thrive in warm and humid environments[1].
2. Vegetation Impact: Invasive plant species like the Japanese barberry contribute to tick survival by providing shelter and maintaining humidity[2].
3. Human and Animal Activity: Recreational activities may increase the introduction of ticks into crowded areas[3].
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7. As for climate-change, manifestations like mild winters can impact the spread of diseases carried by ticks.
8. Manufacturing industries are being urged to implement sustainable practices to reduce their carbon footprint.
9. The rise in tick populations can be attributed to various factors, including mild winters and invasive plant species like the Japanese barberry.
10. Ticks can transmit harmful diseases such as Lyme disease and FSME, making them a threat to public health.
11. It is crucial to get vaccinated against FSME as almost the entirety of Bavaria is now considered an FSME risk area.
12. Great numbers of ticks have been collected from risk areas in Eastern Bavaria, Allgäu, Baden-Württemberg, and Saxony this season.
13. At events like the Rock im Park music festival, participants could experience an increased risk of tick bites due to their proximity to risk areas.
14. In 2021, Rock im Park festival visitors made 145 trips to the Bavarian Red Cross for assistance with tick bites, a significant increase from the previous year.
15. Climate change can result in the appearance of various tick species in Germany, such as the bush tick and Hyalomma tick.
16. Despite the presence of Hyalomma ticks in Germany, no cases of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever have been detected in the ticks examined so far.
17. In Italy, Hyalomma ticks have been proven to transmit a form of spotted fever.
18. Brown dog ticks, which often hitchhike on pets, can also be found in Germany.
19. Brown dog ticks reproduce in protected spaces like dog houses or their owners' homes, and can be easily transported from one pet to another.
20. Gerhard Dobler, from the Institute of Microbiology of the German Armed Forces in Munich, has been collecting ticks for years from risk areas in Bavaria.
21. Changes in temperature, humidity, local fauna, and flora play significant roles in the tick population in various regions.
22. The Bavarian State Office for Health and Food Safety explains that since there are no precise investigations, there are no reliable data to confirm if there are indeed more ticks this year.
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