Ticks
These small creatures can be found throughout Switzerland up to an altitude of 1,200m, and typically live in underbrush at the edge of forests and walking tracks. A tiny proportion carry viral encephalitis (TBE), which may become serious if not detected early. The tick season begins in March and lasts until November.
How to remove a tick
You should always check all over your body after having walked through a potentially tick-infested area, as ticks can cause skin infections and other more serious diseases. If a tick is found attached, press down around the tick's head with tweezers, grab the head and gently pull upwards. Avoid pulling the rear of the body as this may squeeze the tick's gut contents through the attached mouth-parts into the skin, increasing the risk of infection and disease. Smearing chemicals on the tick will not make it let go and is not recommended.
How to protect against tick bites
There is a range of bite prevention measures you can take:
- use an insect repellent that is effective against ticks
- avoid wearing shorts in rural and wooded areas, tuck trousers into socks, or cover all exposed skin with protective clothing (though not always practical in summer)
- inspect your skin for ticks and remove as soon as possible with fine-tipped tweezers
- avoid unpasteurised milk which may also be infected with the TBE virus in endemic regions
Helpful websites
Visit the Tick Alert website for further information on tick disease and prevention