More than 10 cases of Lyme borreliosis registered in Gomel region this year

April 14, Gomel. More than 10 cases of Lyme borreliosis have been registered in the Gomel region this year, Tamara Gusareva, an entomologist at the Department of Epidemiology of Especially Dangerous Infections of the Gomel Regional Center for Hygiene, Epidemiology and Public Health, told BelTA.

“Tick-borne infections in Belarus are registered annually. For example, last year in the Gomel region there were more than a hundred cases of lyme borreliosis and one case of tick-borne encephalitis. This year, 12 cases of lyme borreliosis were registered among the inhabitants of the region,” said Tamara Gusareva.

Carriers of infectious diseases such as Lyme borreliosis, tick-borne encephalitis, tularemia, anaplasmosis and others are ixodid ticks, the specialist recalled. "Lyme borreliosis and tick-borne encephalitis are the most relevant for our region," she specified.

Carriers of tick-borne infections are rodents, wild mammals, birds. Ticks, feeding on their blood, become infected and transmit the infection to humans. "Infection of a person with tick-borne infections most often occurs after sucking an infected tick or crushing it with your hands. Infection with tick-borne encephalitis can also occur when raw (unboiled) goat's milk is consumed if the animal has been bitten by infected ticks," the entomologist noted.

According to her, every year more than 2,000 people apply to the health care organization of the region for tick bites. About 60% of the victims note that ticks attacked in the forest. The remaining cases occurred in dacha gardening plots, farmsteads of villagers, in suburban areas, on the banks of rivers, lakes, reservoirs, in parks and city squares.

Tamara Gusareva reminded: in nature it is necessary to observe measures of protection against ticks. First of all, dress in such a way as to cover the open areas of the body as much as possible. From shoes, rubber boots are better, you should cover your head with a scarf or cap. Light-colored clothing is recommended so that a crawling tick is visible. To repel it, you can also use chemical agents (repellents) that are applied to clothing.

For recreation in the forest, you should choose dry sunny glades, away from trees and shrubs. Both in the forest and after returning, it is necessary to inspect clothes, skin, bags, animals in order to detect a tick in a timely manner.

In summer cottages, household plots in spring, experts recommend clearing the entire territory of dry branches, fallen leaves and debris. "Plants such as thyme and sage repel ticks with their smell, so it is recommended to sow them around the perimeter of the site. Throughout the season, it is necessary to mow the lawn in a timely manner, free the area from tops and plant debris - this is a favorable habitat for ticks. Rodents should be regularly dealt with - they are the hosts of ticks," Tamara Gusareva emphasized.

If the tick is still stuck, it must be removed immediately. Better in a medical facility. But if this cannot be done in a short time, the tick can be removed on its own.

"A victim of a tick bite should contact an infectious disease specialist or a therapist at the place of residence no later than 72 hours from the moment of suction," the entomologist added.

If desired, the removed tick can be examined in the laboratory of the Gomel Regional Center for Hygiene, Epidemiology and Public Health, in the Rechitsa, Rogachev, Mozyr Zonal Hygiene and Epidemiology Centers. Studies are paid (free of charge for those who have medical contraindications to taking antibiotics).