Lyme disease
The best-known disease that can be caused by a tick bite is Lyme disease. Wageningen University conducts research into tick bites and in particular into (the percentage of) infected tick bites and ticks. As for the recent past, we can say that the percentage of ticks that were infected with the Borrelia bacteria in the first half of 2010 (the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, among other things) is comparable to the high percentage of previous years. The long-term average of Borrelia infections in ticks, measured from July 2006 to June 2010, is 15.1 percent. However, tick densities and infection percentages vary greatly. The differences in tick density and the differences in infection percentage between locations are greater than the density differences and percentage differences between the measured months.
Research by the RIVM
The RIVM has determined that the number of people infected with the tick-borne disease Lyme has increased significantly in the period from 1994 to 2009 (https://www.tekenradar.nl/ziekte-van-lyme/lyme-in-nederland). However, a reassuring thought is that not every tick is infected with the bacteria that causes this disease. On average, 15 to 20% of all ticks carry the bacteria. These percentages can vary greatly locally. At the same time, this percentage is very high compared to the European average. In Europe, an average of 10% of ticks are infected with the bacteria that can cause the tick-borne disease Lyme.
Symptoms that indicate a tick-borne disease
The evidence that you are infected with a tick disease can be seen by the round ring that forms around the tick bite. Other symptoms can be fever and muscle pain. If you catch it in time, Lyme disease can be treated with antibiotics. However, it is better to prevent a tick bite and infection with this and other tick diseases.
How do I prevent tick-borne disease?
You can prevent a tick disease by preparing yourself well and wearing protective, tick-resistant clothing from Rovince. We also recommend that you regularly consult the site Tekenradar.nl. Here you will find, among other things, a map with a ten-day forecast of the tick activity level. Another map shows per municipality where the most Lyme disease cases occur per 100,000 inhabitants.