Index
- The impact of climate change on Borreliosis Lyme disease
- Borreliosis of Lyme in the face of global warming
- Ways of preventing Lyme Borreliosis
- How to prevent the proliferation of ticks
- A universal vaccine against Lyme disease by 2025
The impact of climate change on Borreliosis Lyme disease
Lyme borreliosis is transmitted to humans by tick bites. A vector of the disease, this mite feeds on the blood of animals and humans. It is mainly people who work outdoors, often in the open air, who are susceptible to contracting it. The disease occurs in countries in the northern hemisphere, in wooded and humid regions. Heat is the most important factor in the rapid spread of ticks. As temperatures rise due to global warming, ticks are now targeting humans.
Borreliosis of Lyme in the face of global warming
Global warming favours the proliferation of ticks. Ticks did not previously thrive in places too cold for them. With warmer winters, due to the warming world, ticks are now invading parts of the world. Their survival rate increases as summers get warmer. These arachnids, responsible for Lyme Borreliosis, are now claiming more victims by invading brand new environments. They reproduce in places where they were not found and abound in places where they are already present. For example, good weather makes the ticks abundant. People also go out a lot and spend more time outdoors. Guests such as birds, deer and rodents, which are carriers of the disease, are bustling and move around a lot. As a result, the risk of contracting Lyme Borreliosis is increased. Species from warmer countries are settling in France.
Ways of preventing Lyme Borreliosis
The prevention measures against tick bites are the same regardless of location. The aim is to protect oneself from these bugs so as not to become infected and contract Lyme Borreliosis.
- Cover the body as much as possible: This is the first thing to do when you are in a tick. Wear long light-coloured clothing, closed shoes, long socks to put over your trousers.
- Use of repellents
- Favour marked passages without high grass and clear paths.
- Never sit on the floor
- Always check for ticks on the body after each outing, especially in the forest or risk areas: around the waist, between the legs, behind the knees, around the ears, under the arms, in the hair.
- Wash clothes in hot water
- Always be informed about areas at risk of Lyme Borreliosis.
- Remove the tick within 24 hours after discovery of the bite to avoid infection.
- Monitor the bite point for 30 days.
How to prevent the proliferation of ticks
Rodent exterminators are indispensable in the fight against tick-borne infections. Already in the larval stage, the mites look for their prey among the organisms in their path. Rodents are thus their main targets since they are abundant in the warm season and can be found just about everywhere. Tall grassy areas and wooded and forested areas are full of them. A strong presence of predators considerably reduces the number of rodents, the vectors of the disease. As a result, the number of infected ticks is also reduced. The reason for this is that the rodents come out of their lairs less often and the ticks cannot spread. The risk of humans contracting Lyme disease is also reduced. This is why it is said that foxes are useful against Lyme Borreliosis.
Precautions to take to keep ticks away from the house
Ticks do not only live in the forest. The vectors of Lyme Borreliosis are quite numerous and move around a lot. They can thus come closer to the house. To avoid their spread around the house and the risk of infecting the whole family, it is necessary to :
- Mow the lawn regularly to avoid tall grass.
- Place children's play areas, terraces and patios in sunny locations and especially not near tree lines or yard boundaries.
- Treat pets regularly with topical or oral acaricides to prevent them from transmitting ticks.
- Never allow brush, dead leaves and weeds to pile They favour the proliferation of ticks.
- Cementing and cleaning small openings in the walls or around the house
These are all measures that must be applied to ensure that the transmission of Lyme Borreliosis is curbed.
A universal vaccine against Lyme disease by 2025
This is good news for the 250,000 or so Europeans affected by Lyme borreliosis every year. A vaccine against the disease is in clinical development. The Valneva laboratory in Nantes has been working on this vaccine for 10 years. Valneva and the American pharmaceutical laboratory Pfizer recently signed an agreement on this subject. Animal trials have been proven. Tests on its effectiveness will be carried out on humans. Thus, the vaccine will be tested at the same time in Europe and the United States. It will protect against the six main types of the disease. It is hoped that it will be commercialised by 2025.
