A damp spring followed by days of warm sunshine has created ideal conditions for wood ticks in Denmark. And up to 20 percent of them could be infected with the Borrelia bacteria that can settle in the nervous system and cause paralysis.
“There are many ticks at the moment,” René Bødker, an epidemiologist at the Technical University of Denmark, told Ekstra Bladet.
“Last week we visited a forest in North Zealand where we caught 700 in three hours.”
Possible paralysis
Eastern Jutland, Funen and Zealand have been hit hard, by a plague of ticks while western and north Jutland remain largely free of the pests. Country to popular belief, ticks are not only found in the forest. Visitors in cities and parks can also be bitten.
“As many as 20 percent of the ticks are infected with Borrelia bacteria, so they should be removed as quickly as possible,” said Bødker.
About a day after being bitten, a large red ring or rash will appear around the bite. If the infection is not detected in time, it can get into the nervous system and possibly cause paralysis. Even if using repellent, visitors to the great outdoors anywhere should check themselves over completely when y come in.
