50,000. This is the number of new Lyme disease cases identified in France in 2019, according to Public Health France. This disease is transmitted by the bite of a tick infected with bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lata. When the disease is diagnosed and taken care of in a timely manner, the course of this disease is appropriate. The problem: You can be stung by a tick without our realizing it. When left untreated, Lyme disease can lead to problems with the joints, nervous system, or skin. So it is important to prevent the risk of tick bites. But to do this, it is still necessary to know where the risk of stinging is higher.
Tick bites: the four places most at risk
- Forests and wooded areas
Walking in nature leads to tick bites, especially between April and October, during which time these parasites are most active. This is especially the case in the woods as well as in wooded and humid areas: in 2019, 48% of bites were reported on the app. Retail report It happened in these places.
- Public and private parks and gardens
In 2019, 29% of tick bites occurred in parks and gardens. And these pests aren’t limited to public green spaces: they can also get bitten in your own garden. According to an increasingly frequent phenomenonNational Institute for Agricultural, Food and Environmental Research (Inrae), which reveals that 47% of the bites reported during the first containment occurred in private gardens. An alarming increase requires Conduct specific research to improve understanding of this phenomenon and highlight these risks to public authorities, citizens and health professionals.Indique l’INRA.
Grasslands are also places at risk of tick bites, as these parasites are found in tall grass. 11% of bites recorded in 2019 by Tick Signal occurred in promoter.
While forests, parks and gardens as well as meadows remain places where the risk of a bite is greatest, it is modern a study Published in the American Journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology It reveals that ticks also reside in coastal areas, and more precisely in wooded areas found on coasts. This work also indicates that the bacteria responsible for Lyme disease are as common in ticks that live near the coast as they are in wooded areas.
How do you avoid tick bites?
How do you prevent tick bites? When walking in nature, it is advisable to take certain precautions to reduce the risks. TheNational Agency for Food Safety, Environment and Occupational Health ANSES states the correct reactions to adopt, which are:
- Avoid walking in tall grasses, shrubs and low branches;
- Use of repellents
- Wearing closed shoes and light-colored clothes;
- Examine your skin and clothes when you get home;
- In the event of a bite, immediately remove the parasite with a tick remover;
- Watch the bite for several days and see your doctor if symptoms appear.
Read also:
Lyme disease: areas where infected ticks are found the most
Lyme disease: how do you know a tick will breed near you? Responsive study
Ticks: 8 effective tips to protect yourself from them
