In the first three months of the year, 39 cases of Lyme disease were detected in Latvia

13 cases of illness were found in January, -15 in February, and -11 in March.

SPKC operational data show that so far no cases of tick-borne encephalitis and ehrlichiosis have been detected in Latvia.

Last year, however, there were 281 cases of Lyme disease, 262 cases of tick-borne encephalitis and two cases of ehrlichiosis.

The season of tick activity in Latvia usually lasts from the beginning of April to the end of October, but in favorable meteorological conditions it can be longer. Ticks become active when the snow melts and the air temperature exceeds +3 to +5 degrees.

SPKC specialists call on everyone who goes outdoors to always be cautious. After being outdoors, even if it’s the backyard, check your clothing or body for ticks. Children should be checked especially carefully.

SPKC epidemiologists remind that vaccination provides protection only against tick-borne encephalitis, but does not protect against other tick-borne diseases, such as Lyme disease and ehrlichiosis.

Three epidemiologically important species of ticks are found in Latvia – the pasture tick “Ixodes ricinus”, the taiga tick “Ixodes persulcatus” and the ornamented meadow tick “Dermacentor reticulatus”, which is increasingly common in recent years.

In recent years, the presence of tick-borne encephalitis viruses in unsucked ticks collected in nature during the season of tick activity has varied from 1 to 3%, the presence of Lyme disease-causing Borrelia – from 20 to 70%, and the prevalence of “A. phagocytophilum” – the causative agent of ehrlichiosis – from 1 to 9%.