Is there a risk of infection in Galicia?

Death of a person from Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) At the beginning of the month, the alarm was raised in Salamanca about this infection, caused by the bite of a certain type of tick or Carracha. Between 2013 and 2022, a total of 12 cases of CCHF were detected in Spain with four deaths, most of which occurred in different locations in Castile and León, such as El Bierzo. No cases have been reported in Galicia, but the proximity to these sites means the community has been under active surveillance since 2018.

CCHF is a disease caused by a virus of the same name “and spreads through this type of tick bite Gialommaalthough it can also be contracted through direct contact with the blood or fluids of infected animals,” Sanidade details. Mortality rates range from 3% to 40%.

The incubation period of the disease is 5-6 days, the first symptoms include: sudden onset of high fever, although Sanidade clarifies that “the fever may not always be that high, and there may even be a small proportion of cases without fever.” He also has headache, muscle pain and dizziness. In addition, there may be “diarrhea, redness of the face, neck and chest, eye congestion, or conjunctivitis.”

In about four days hemorrhagic manifestations appear: “from petechiae and large hematomas on the skin and mucous membranes to bleeding, mainly from the nose, digestive tract, uterus, urinary or respiratory tract,” liver and kidney failure also occurs.

Low risk in Galicia

In Galicia there are still no “records of any indigenous cases” detailing Sanidade, “therefore the level of risk in our community is low.” However, cases have been identified in nearby areas such as El Bierzo, so the Galician Department of Health maintains active tick surveillance through Regavivec (Galician Vector Surveillance Network).

This network has a special line for detecting ticks of the genus Gialomma since 2018. Since then These mites have been identified in 21 municipalities in Galicia. However, all of them were sent to the National Microbiology Center for virus detection and detection. all were negative.

Prevention and what to do if bitten

Karrachas They live on the ground and climb into grasses and bushes, from where they detect their hosts using temperature-sensitive cells. “Its bite is painless,” which is why “the bite is usually undetectable.” Carracha moves across the skin” details the organism. It does may go unnoticed, so you need to follow some tips to detect them and remove them as soon as possible, especially when you spend time outdoors in the wild. Here are Sanidade’s recommendations:

Avoid and detect the bite

To start, you can follow some guidelines to avoid or minimize the risk of tick bites.

• First and foremost, you should avoid ticks on pets or pets and consult your veterinarian about how to eliminate them or prevent tick infestation.
• If you live in a house with an allotment or garden, it is advisable to keep the grass short as this is a way to control population. Karrachas.
• When exercising outdoors, you need to follow a few tips: apply repellent to your skin; try not to lie directly on the grass; Wear light-colored, long-sleeved, long-legged protective clothing and tuck your feet into socks or boots. You can also treat socks and pant legs with a permethrin-based insecticide.
• When you return home, you should check your clothes and your entire body, taking into account that Karrachas They usually prefer areas with soft skin and hair (armpits, groin and head).

How to remove ticks

If a tick is found on any part of the body, it must be removed immediately, but some recommendations must also be followed to avoid damaging the tick and not leaving parts of it on the skin:

• To remove it, it is best to use appropriate tweezers, which should have a thin tip so as not to damage the tick and be able to remove it entirely. Otherwise, you can use your fingers covered with gloves or paper.

• The correct procedure consists of: grabbing Carracha as close to the skin as possible without putting pressure on it, so as not to squeeze or damage the body, which could lead to the release of infectious fluids.
• It must be pulled upward with even and constant pressure, and not twisted or torn off. Carracha, as this may cause parts of the mouth to come off and remain on the skin. If this happens, the mouthparts must be removed with tweezers, but if this is not possible, Sanidade recommends leaving it alone.

• After removal check markIt is necessary to thoroughly clean the bite site and hands with alcohol, iodized solution, or soap and water.
• Finally, there is no need to crush Carracha after removing it and placing it in a closed bag.