The tick while walking in Sweden
Sweden consists of more than half of forests and therefore this country is the perfect place for ticks. Although the little creatures are mainly found in warm places, they are increasingly moving further north. Walking in Swedish nature is therefore anything but without danger. Especially when you know that ticks can transmit nasty diseases.
Where in Sweden are the ticks?
Due to the gradual warming of the climate, ticks are moving further and further north. In the last ten years, the tick has moved 300 kilometres north and is now also present in Sweden. The tick is a particular danger in southern Sweden. Ticks that carry the Borrelia bacteria and can transmit Lyme disease are everywhere, but in Sweden there are also ticks that can infect people with tick-borne encephalitis. In the south and around the capital Stockholm, the chance of contracting this disease as a result of a tick bite is greatest. This also applies to the popular holiday destinations of Götland and Öland.
Tick-borne encephalitis / TBE mainly in southern Sweden
In Sweden, approximately 200 people are infected with tick-borne encephalitis in an average year. This disease, also known as FSME or TBE, is an inflammation of the brain. A week after infection by a tick bite, fever and flu develop. One in three infected people also suffer from meningitis. This is often accompanied by headaches, dizziness and stiffness of the neck, shoulders and back. There is no treatment, but there is a vaccine. Many Swedish residents are vaccinated against this disease.
Lyme disease throughout Sweden
The tick species Ixodes Ricinus is the carrier of tick-borne encephalitis in Sweden, but the chance of being infected with Lyme disease is greater after a bite from this tick. If a red circular spot appears after the tick bite, this indicates infection with Lyme disease. Treatment with a course of antibiotics is then necessary, because the disease can even be fatal in rare cases. In the first stage, fever and flu occur. Later, the bacteria can also affect the joints, nervous system and heart. There is no vaccine against this virus.