The community of Madrid warns against the dangers of ticks.Photo Credit: Erik Karits via Pixabay
With soaring temperatures and summer quickly approaching, so too approach the summertime pests: all different kinds of insect species are already out and about in Spain, including the irritating mosquito. But the community of Madrid has sent out an official warning about another blood-sucking bother: the tick.
Ticks (which are not an insect but actually an arachnid as they have eight legs, not six), arrive with the rising temperatures and, similar to the mosquito, their bites can carry potentially serious diseases, such as borreliosis, Lyme disease, rickettsiosis, anaplasmosis, or Crimea-Congo haemorrhagic fever (or CCHF). In fact, in May of this year, a case of CCHF was documented in Salamanca, Spain, when a 70-year-old man was hospitalised after having been bitten by an infected Hyalomma tick.
The symptoms of CCHF can include fever, muscle aches, headache, dizziness or disorientation, vomiting, diarrhoea, fatigue, a quickened heart rate, and internal bleeding or bruising. In severe cases, it can even cause liver failure, kidney failure, or trouble breathing, which is why patients are urged to seek medical attention immediately if they are experiencing any of these symptoms, especially after knowingly having been bitten by a tick.
Now, the community of Madrid and the Regional Body of Forest Agents (Cuerpo Regional de Agentes Forestales) are taking action to make sure the public is informed of the risk ticks can entail. It is recommended to wear light-colored clothes to be able to see the ticks more easily. It is also urged to wear long sleeves, pants, socks, and closed-toed shoes.
If bitten by a tick, this is the procedure to follow:
- Use gloves or thin pliers and grab the tick by the part closest to the skin (it is recommended to remove the tick as soon as possible).
- Pull upwards (in a perpendicular manner) away from the skin.
- Do not twist, smash, or pull harshly.
- Clean the area with soapy water. If you experience a fever or any of the symptoms above within the next few days, seek medical attention immediately.
The same rules should be followed if a pet is bitten.
The community of Madrid advises using bug repellant, staying away from areas with overgrown vegetation and avoiding sitting on the ground. Moreover, it is recommended to thoroughly examine the body afterwards, especially the hair, underarms, and belly button. After being in an area with thick vegetation, it’s recommended to wash the clothes with hot water.
