A handful of bird tick species, which can spread haemorrhagic fever, were discovered in Sweden last summer. The fact that adult individuals have been found suggests that the species is starting to thrive here, reports Aftonbladet.
Last summer, five bird ticks were discovered in southern Sweden. The unusual tick's arrival in Sweden is said to be due to its preference for warmer, drier summers, and we can expect to see more of it this summer.
We've seen adult bird ticks in Sweden, so it looks like they're starting to thrive here in the Nordics, notes Ali Mirazimi, adjunct professor of virology at the Karolinska Institutet to Aftonbladet.
The tick is a larger and more aggressive species that hunts its prey and can carry the life-threatening Krim-Kongo haemorrhagic fever virus. It's called the bird tick because it hitches a ride with migratory birds from countries in Asia, Africa, and southern Europe. In recent years, it has also been seen in southern and eastern Europe and the Balkans.
Vaccine development is currently underway. However, Ali Mirazimi points out that the tick is still extremely rare in Sweden.
The average person has no reason to be worried at all, he tells the newspaper.
If you suspect you've been bitten, you should contact healthcare services.
