Encountering, twirling, and transporting to the lab: appropriate actions following a tick bite

Spring brings surge in tick-borne diseases in Russia

Over 127,000 Russian residents have sought medical help due to tick bites since the beginning of spring, as reported by the consumer protection agency Rospotrebnadzor on its Telegram channel. The number of cases remains within historical averages, although certain regions, including Altai, Kostroma, Kirov, Tomsk, Kemerovo, and Udmurtia, have been particularly affected.

The most hazardous disease transmitted by ticks is tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), for which there is no specific treatment. In 2024, slightly over 1,600 cases of TBE were registered, with an incidence rate of one case per 100,000 population, based on data from the "Problems of Especially Dangerous Infections" journal. While rare, TBE can lead to brain damage, disability, or death.

The first cases of TBE in 2025 have emerged, as reported in Buryatia, where a woman was infected at home by ticks that her child had brought in on their clothes. Symptoms include high fever, delirium, and severe headache. The woman was hospitalized, and her child remained unharmed.

Lyme disease, or borreliosis, is the most common diagnosis following a tick bite. Immediate treatment is recommended to prevent nerve and joint damage. Other infections transmitted by ticks, like tick-borne rickettsiosis and ehrlichiosis, also cause feverish conditions.

According to medical consultations in the Primorye region last year, tick-borne encephalitis virus was detected in 0.2% of cases, while borreliosis accounted for 23%, followed by tick-borne rickettsiosis (20%), and ehrlichiosis (1-1.5%).

With over 2.5 million individuals vaccinated against TBE, according to the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing, vaccination is recommended for anyone residing in or traveling to regions where TBE is endemic. Vaccinations for children as young as one year old are administered in Russia. The standard vaccination cycle consists of two stages, with an interval of five to seven months, and revaccination is performed yearly.

Research on the effectiveness of anti-tick immunoglobulin for the prevention of TBE is not conclusive, contrary to claims that it is an alternative to vaccination.

Simple prevention methods include avoiding exposed skin as well as the use of repellents and regular checks for ticks during and after walks. If a tick does bite, it should be carefully removed perpendicular to the skin's surface to prevent the tick's mouthparts from remaining beneath the skin, and taken to the nearest infectious hospital for testing.

Biologist Antonina Oblasova casts doubt on the effectiveness of post-contact prevention of TBE using anti-tick immunoglobulin, pointing out that there is no research confirming its efficacy, and its use is limited to some regions outside the post-Soviet space.

In contrast to TBE, borreliosis can be treated without significant complications if antibiotics are started promptly. However, if the disease affects the nervous system, heart rhythm, or joints, it is advisable to consult a rheumatologist, neurologist, or cardiologist.

Ticks may go unnoticed during attachment, as they inject an anesthetic substance along with their saliva. A characteristic sign of tick attachment is the formation of a skin erythema, a round spot with brightly colored edges and a pale center. If such a spot is noticed, immediate medical attention should be sought, as it may be a symptom of Lyme disease.

In the spring, Rospotrebnadzor treats parks and other territories with acaricides for tick control. As of May 20, over 51% of the planned area has been treated. Parks were also treated with acaricides last year, despite the registration of 1,245 cases of tick-borne borreliosis in Moscow in 2024. Rospotrebnadzor advises adhering to basic prevention measures, such as wearing closed clothing, headgear, and repellents, and avoiding lying on bare grass, even in areas that have been treated with acaricides.

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Encountering, twirling, and transporting to the lab: appropriate actions following a tick bite