Emma Frans: "We are right now in the middle of the tick's high season"

The Swedish tick season usually runs from March to November.

But they are most active between April and mid-June.

- So you can say that we are in the middle of the tick's high season, says Emma Frans, doctor of medical epidemiology, researcher and science writer, in SVT's Morning Studio.

There is therefore reason to be extra vigilant in forests and land in the coming time.

Partly in central and southern Sweden.

In recent years, ticks have also begun to find further north.

- But the high-risk areas are the coastal area at Uppland and Södermanland and certain parts of Lake Mälaren, says Emma Frans.

Record number of TBE cases

In 2021, a record increase in TBE cases was reported in the country.

The explanations are several, according to Emma Frans.

Partly due to a more favorable climate, but also because the number of host animals has increased.

There are also theories that the pandemic has contributed to more people simply being out in nature.

An easy way to protect yourself from TBE is to continue to be vaccinated, especially for residents in risk areas, according to Emma Frans.

- They eat a disease that often does not cause symptoms at all.

But you can also be seriously affected and get a meningitis.

There are also deaths, although they are rare.