IMPORTANT READ
By Alexis Chesney, ND, LAc
As summer arrives, many US families are planning vacations and trips abroad. This reminds me of a patient I met this year who reported experiencing the onset of a fever, flu-like symptoms, and joint pain upon returning from a biking trip in Europe.
Upon testing, Borrelia garinii, one of the Borrelia species that causes Lyme disease in Europe, was confirmed.
This case highlights the importance of being aware of the different types of ticks and the diseases they can transmit when traveling abroad. By understanding these risks and taking preventive measures, you can ensure a safer and more enjoyable trip if you are traveling to Europe this summer.
European ticks and diseases they may carry
- Ixodes ricinus (Castor Bean Tick): Anaplasma phagocytophylum, Babesia spp, Borrelia burgdorferi, Borrelia afzelii, Borrelia garinii, Borrelia bavariensis, Borrelia spielmanii, Borrelia miyamotoi, Rickettsia spp, and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus.
- Ixodes persulcatus (Taiga Tick): Borrelia afzelii, B. garinii, B. valaisiana, Borrelia miyamotoi, Rickettsia spp, tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus.
- Hyalomma marginatum (Mediterranean Hyalomma): Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus.
- Dermacentor reticulatus (Ornate Cattle Tick): Rickettsia slovaca, R. raoultii (tick-borne lymphadenopathy (TIBOLA)), tick-borne encephalitis virus.
- Dermacentor marginatus (Ornate Sheep Tick): Rickettsia slovaca, R. raoultii (tick-borne lymphadenopathy (TIBOLA)), Coxiella burnetii (Q Fever), Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus.
Since ticks in North America do not carry tick-borne encephalitis virus or Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus, it’s essential to be aware of the symptom profiles for these diseases, which can be acquired overseas.
Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) symptoms
- Early Symptoms (first five days):
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Muscle pain
- Nausea
- Asymptomatic Phase (seven days):
- Next Phase:
- Meningitis
- Meningoencephalitis
- Myelitis
- Paralysis
- Radiculitis
Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Symptoms
- Fever
- Headache
- Muscle pain
- Malaise
- Light sensitivity
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea, vomiting
- Hemorrhagic symptoms (may include petechiae, nosebleeds, bruising, severe hemorrhages)
Prevention Tips
- Use tick repellents: DEET or TickShield by Cedarcide, a natural cedarwood oil spray safe for humans and dogs over 20 pounds, applied every 1-2 hours.
- Permethrin treatment: Treating socks and sneakers with permethrin decreases the chance of getting a tick bite by 73 times! Before you pack, treat shoes, socks, clothing and gear with permethrin. Wear gloves (permethrin is toxic to our skin when wet) when you spray down materials outdoors. Safe to touch when dry. Treatment lasts six weeks with do-it-yourself treatment.
- Perform nightly body checks for ticks after a day of potential exposure. Ticks love warm, moist areas, so be thorough.
- Put your clothes in the dryer (skip the washer) on high for six minutes after coming indoors. This kills ticks effectively.
If you get bitten by a tick, save the tick for testing. Place it in a zip lock bag and send it to a trusted facility such as TickReport once you return home. This is crucial, especially if you develop symptoms after a tick bite.
Watch for symptoms especially over the next 30 days from a tick bite: “bull’s-eye” or other rash around tick bite, fever, flu-like symptoms, joint pain or swelling, muscle pain, headaches, neck pain, facial palsy, lymph node swelling, palpitations, night sweats, air hunger or non-exertional shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, cough, sore throat, confusion, disorientation, difficulty breathing or speaking, loss of coordination, seizures, lethargy, paralysis, body rash. Report symptoms to a [Lyme-literate] health care provider.
Learn more
Bringing awareness and taking preventive measures can significantly reduce the risk of tick-borne diseases. For more detailed information and resources, consider reviewing her new online course, Preventing Lyme and Tick-Borne Diseases: Ticks from Around the World, Diseases They Carry, Prevention, and Acute Treatments.
By staying informed and taking these preventive steps, you can enjoy a safer travel experience this summer.
Alexis Chesney ND, LAc is a naturopathic physician and acupuncturist specializing in the treatment of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases. For more information about her book Preventing Lyme and her protocols, see her website.
Melinda
lookingforthelight.blog 
Thanks for the tips, Melinda. TickShield by Cedarcide looks like a good fit for me. I’m going to order some next week.
Glad you found something. I’ll keep that in mind when I get out in nature.
My dog takes flea and tick preventative yet still will get infected with a tick borne disease.
The preventatives only go so far and what tick borne illnesses do they cover? They may not prevent the type of ticks in your area. There are too many and so many undiscovered. There is not a product on the market that can cover all the known tick borne illnesses. Find a spray with DEET in it and spray on dog carefully before you walk or let roam. You have to check your dog after each outing for ticks and they are hard to find as they are smaller than a piece of rice.
Thanks for this, Melinda. Where do they get these ticks? Are they found in certain places, forests or farms, perhaps? Or are they in the air-BNBs or hotels, etc?
Ticks of all types are mostly found around tall grass, in tress, scrubs and mounds of debris or leaves. The key is to wear white socks with your pants tucked in, a white long sleeve shirt and a hat that hangs down below your shirt. They are very tiny, about the size of a piece of rice and are hard to spot, that is why wearing white is best. When you get inside wash all of your clothes right away and check you entire body with a magnifying glass, everywhere. they go for warn and small crevices and in your hair which makes them hard to see. It sounds like a lot but nothing compared to getting a Tick Borne Disease. If you out in the city walking and not around any grass or trees you will have much better luck. Also remember that mosquitos can carry Dungy Fever. If they are out, be sure to use a repellent that contains Deet. Deet is not ideal but anything less doesn’t not repel mosquito’s or ticks. Mosquitos can are Lyme and so can sand flies. I hope this helps. I went to check out your site yesterday and it said it was closed. I’ll try again.
What? My site is closed? But how can that be? Let me check.
No it’s not closed, I was mistaken. I know see you are in the Philippines. Take good care.
Thanks once again, my friend! I shall drop by once in a while to savor your blogs. 😊👍🏼
Thank you.
I forgot, that was someone else. I’m following you.
Thanks. You got me worried for a while there.
Oh wow!!! Thanks for this
Great reminders, Melinda💓
They are everywhere
You have everything here to know! I’ve not used protective sprays and lotions in the past but finally do now. I also just learned about submitting the tick for testing. My grandson came home from camp with one in his head. Fortunately, my daughter sent it in for testing, and it did not carry any disease. You offer a great source of information here, Melinda.
Thanks Mary, Lyme almost killed me and I don’t want it to happen to anyone.