The ticks beet at ease in Catalonia for years and the situation, judging by the last study on the distribution of this invasive species published in the Bulletin of the Bulletin Catalan Institution of Natural History (December 2024), Experts are already concerned. The first scientific analysis of the presence in Catalonia of the ‘Hyalomma Lusitanicum’ was carried out in 2022 and confirmed the existence of specimens of this arthropod that feeds on blood in 31 municipalities (30 in regions of Barcelona and 1 in those of Tarragona), As reported by ABC in its May 24, 2024. Now, a data update, advanced by ‘La Vanguardia’, confirms the expansion of this invasive species, which has already been located in 81 municipalities (55 located in the regions of Barcelona and 26 in those of Tarragona).
The ‘hyalomma’ is especially active between April and Julywhen he seeks without stopping possible guests. The most remarkable thing about these specimens is their ease of movement and adhesion. And his greatest risk, nobody doubts it, the potential to transmit serious diseases such as Crimea-Congo hemorrhagic fever.
The presence of the ‘hyalomma’ in Catalonia has increased due to temperature increase And especially at the growing presence of wild animals such as wild boars, increasingly accommodated in the metropolitan environment, or rabbits, which today involve a problem for Catalan fields. Both species are perfect guests for the tick, which can easily happen to the curious people who walk through their forests.
«The dispersion of this tick is being very fast, in some municipalities it is even present in public parks, gardens and schools of schools; With important potential effects on human health, ”he explains at the forefront Carlos PraderaPest control expert, anticimex technician 3D Environmental Health SA and co -author of the studies of 2022 and 2024 on the ‘H. Lusitanicum ‘in Catalonia, next to Agustín Estrada-Peñaexternal consultant of the Ministry of Health and professor at the University of Zaragoza.
«At present, the study area has a high risk to public health, due to the great proliferation of ‘H. lusitanicum ‘around urban nuclei», Expose the authors in the presentation article of the new study. On the other hand, it is not ruled out that this tick is present in many other municipalities, so they consider new studies and the performance of the Generalitat.
The authors of the report indicate the inaction of public health authorities in the problem. «Two years after shown the growing problem of ‘H. Lusitanicum ‘in Catalonia, we have not seen progress in public health authorities, ”they need in the report, consulted by ABC. And remember that «it is a tick that can be responsible for the circulation, amplification and transmission of certain pathogens (for those who still there are still representative data) with the consequent problem, currently ignored, for public health ». «At the time, we pointed out that a monitoring program should be initiated to know the distribution of this and other ticks, at least at the regional level; although at the state level its study has begun through the Gares project of the Ministry of Healththe scale of this project prevents the different areas of interest (or risk for humans) from being in depth in a region, ”they conclude.
Experts warn that there is no Magic formula To dodge these bugs and affect that going to the field with long pants and long -sleeved t -shirts, as well as covered and adequate footwear they can always contribute to difficult the tick from sticking to the skin. Authorized repellents can also be helpful.
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