2023-07-18 11:37:42
Appearing for the first time in 2020 in the East of France, this viral infection with neurological sequelae transmitted by ticks has since spread to the Rhône Alpes region, according to the report that Public Health France has just published. On the front line, Haute-Savoie, but not only.
We know that ticks are the vectors of Lyme disease, well known today and on the rise in France – 60,000 new cases were recorded there in 2019, once morest 26,000 between 2009. In question, global warming, but also the decrease in the population of foxes, natural predators of rodents spreading these mites, some of which carry the virus, according to several studies.
But the bite of these mites, which only feed on blood, can also cause inflammation of the brain: tick-borne encephalitis. A condition noted for the first time in the spring of 2020. 43 people living Ain were then suffering from meningitis, meningoencephalitis or flu-like symptoms. All had been infected with the tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) following consuming raw milk goat cheese. This was the first known food-borne infection in France, TBEV being generally transmitted by tick bites.
In Europe, the Czech Republic, Germany and the Baltic countries are particularly affected by this serious viral disease, but in France, indigenous cases are on the rise. To the point that since May 2021, tick-borne encephalitis has been one of the notifiable diseases, recalls Public Health France which has just published the with of the first two years of surveillance of these cases of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) over the period May 2021 to May 2023. This inventory made public a few days ago shows that the infections acquired on French territory are more numerous than those acquired during trips abroad.
What is tick-borne encephalitis?
This flu-like virus reaches the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) in a significant proportion of cases. 40% of these may suffer from neurological sequelae – headaches, sensitivity to light, dizziness and difficulty concentrating and walking – for weeks or even years, the report says. The disease is fatal in regarding 1% of cases.
What are the most affected areas according to the report?
Haute-Savoie is the department that reported the most cases during these two years, while the recognition of the virus is much more recent there than in Alsace, we learn. The Auvergne-Rhône Alpes region is now an important area for the circulation of the virus, with massifs particularly at risk, such as Forez. It should be noted that the virus circulation zone reaches the south of the Ardèche, a department which should be the subject of particular vigilance, according to the rapporteurs.
Probable place of contamination of autochthonous cases of infection with the virus declared in France from May 2021 to May 2023. (Public Health France)
How many cases have been identified and which profiles are affected?
71 cases were notified between May 2021 and May 2023, (30 in 2021, 36 in 2022 and 5 in 2023). 86% were cases of “indigenous” infection, in other words contracted in France (61 cases) and 14% (10 cases) had been infected abroad, in a country “at risk”. Of these 71 cases, 4 were children under 16 and 15 over 65. 94% of cases were hospitalized, but no deaths had occurred at the time of reporting. It should be noted that only 15% of those affected exercised professions exposing them particularly to tick bites: breeder or family of a breeder or worker in the breeding of horses or ruminants, agent of the National Forestry Office, horticulturist, forester or agricultural college student.
Should I get vaccinated?
Two vaccines are currently available in France, explains the Vidal. They are prepared with different strains of inactivated virus (ENCEPUR, TICOVAC). This vaccination is recommended for adult travelers and children exposed to highly endemic countries.
To know more : the tick-borne encephalitis vaccine | Vaccination Info Service
Prevent contamination, the 7 good actions to adopt
The vast majority of tick bites do not result in disease transmission. However, if we take only the Ixodes ricinus – the most widespread tick in Europe and the main vector of disease, 38 bacteria, parasites and viruses are potentially transmitted via its saliva when it bites its victims, according to a vast study published by four INRA teams. Also, from April to November, there are plenty of reasons to protect yourself once morest ticks.
1 Be vigilant
Ticks are present in wooded and humid areas. They appreciate the tall grasses that serve as a springboard for them to land on your skin or on your dog. But a quarter of bites take place in gardens, according to data from the CiTiQUE participatory research program relayed by the National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety (Anses). We know that, in the case of Lyme disease, less than 1% of the affected population transmits the bacteria to their offspring, and consequently, the latter are generally not infective during the bite. Still, the threat is worrying enough for us to take precautions.
2 Before an outing, adopt the right equipment
You can repel ticks the same way you repel insects. “Repellents that contain DEET (N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide) are very effective once morest ticks, just as they are once morest mosquitoes. If you are regularly outdoors in areas where you know there are plenty of ticks, you can also wear clothes treated with permethrin, which repels insects. It is also advisable to wear long sleeves and pants to prevent ticks from coming into contact with your skin. Preferably light in color so that they can be spotted more easily. You can tuck your pants into your socks or high shoes and your t-shirt into your pants. Also remember to cover your head and neck with a hat or cap, especially to protect children who have their heads high in tall grass and bushes.
3 In the field, reduce the risks
Stay in the center of the trails. Avoid sitting or lying down directly on the ground (use a sheet for example). Check regularly for ticks.
4 Back home, know how to flush out the intruders
Ticks will thrive on animals and humans who won’t notice them, it’s their survival strategy. If you spot them, remove them. Many diseases are not transmitted immediately, it can take hours. If you are in an area known for ticks, do daily (or more frequent) full-body checks. Ticks usually look for warm, moist places, scalp, armpits, groin, behind the knees or behind the ears. Don’t forget to have your back checked by a friend.
5 Learn how to remove them
Found a tick on your body? Get rid of it ASAP. If the tick didn’t bite you, there’s really nothing to worry regarding. Just brush it off or pick it up with a tissue. If she bit you, then she latched on. It’s best to use tick tweezers to remove them, but not all of them work with small ticks. In this case, use tweezers. Hold the tick as close to your skin as possible, then pull it straight out. Try to avoid crushing the body, and do your best to remove it entirely. Some folk remedies involve touching the tick with a lighted match or covering it with petroleum jelly, but experts strongly advise once morest this. And above all, never use ether or any other product. Once the tick is removed, disinfect the wound well. The main thing is to minimize the time the tick stays on you. Because it is not because one is bitten by an infected tick that one necessarily catches the disease. It all depends on the stage of development (larva, nymph, adult). In addition, 17 to 24 hours of fixation on a person are required for this person to contract the disease. Don’t have tweezers in your backpack? You should, but hey. Failing that, two plastic credit cards will do, in a pinch.
6 Pay attention to symptoms
After a tick bite, pay special attention to any symptoms. If in the next few days or weeks you begin to feel flu-like illnesses, or if you see a rash near the bite site, get yourself checked out by a doctor. The rash is a common symptom of Lyme disease, but it does not appear in all patients. Early treatment with antibiotics will get rid of Lyme disease completely.
7 And for those who have a dog…
Above all, take preventive measures to prevent ticks from reaching your dog. Most flea collars also work for ticks and act as an insecticide or repellent. There is also a vaccine once morest two tick-borne diseases: babesiosis (piroplasmosis) and Lyme disease. And if your dog roams in wet, grassy fields, check carefully for bites. You should be able to smell or see a tick, especially if it is engorged with blood. Remove it the same way you would on yourself: place the tweezers close to the skin, grab the tick and pull it out.
Header photo: Depositphotos
Topics: HealthTicks
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