The population is warned to be cautious while walking and resting in the open air, especially in parks and forests. When the weather grows colder, the ticks, which carry infections, come out of hibernation, IPN reports.
Specialists of the Public Health Center of Chisinau municipality urge the people to wear clothes of light colors, with long sleeves, and to avoid high-density areas. When one stays in green areas longer, they should examine the uncovered skin when returning home and should take a shower.
If a tick is found, this should be immediately removed and the bite place should be treated with iodine tincture or 70% alcohol solution, not by other methods. The person should see the family doctor who will decide the chemo-prophylactic treatment.
According to the Center’s figures, 30% of the ticks collected last year for being examined in labs were infected with the Borrelia burgdorferi, which is the causative agent of Lyme disease. At the start of this April, the examinations were resumed and over 100 ticks have been already collected.
Lyme disease can affect multiple body systems and produce a broad range of symptoms. Not all patients with Lyme disease have all symptoms, and many of the symptoms are not specific to Lyme disease, but can occur with other diseases, as well. The incubation period from infection to the onset of symptoms is usually one to two weeks, but can be much shorter (days), or much longer (months to years).
