8 Myths about Ticks

Mild winters have made ticks active and awake all year round. It's reported that there are more cases in Sweden this year and record number of ticks.

8 myths about ticks

1. You should twist clockwise or counterclockwise to remove a tick. The best way is to pull it straight up and avoid squeezing it.
2. Smothering a tick with butter is effective. It's much better to pull it out.
3. TBE (Tick-borne encephalitis) doesn't exist in Norrland. It's uncommon, but the virus TBE also exists further north.
4. Borrelia is transmitted immediately upon biting. It takes time for the Borrelia bacteria to be transmitted, at least 24 hours. If you remove the tick quickly, the risk of infection is low.
5. Ticks live in trees. Ticks live on the ground and climb up into grass and roots, waiting for animals or humans to pass by.
6. There are special tick seasons with high occurrence. This is a myth; there are approximately the same number of ticks every year.
7. Ticks are beneficial to the ecosystem. Ticks exist for themselves and do no good except for themselves
8. Ticks have no enemies. Ticks have few enemies, some birds and the ladybug beetle eat ticks.

Be careful not to get bitten by ticks.

Sources: Land.se, SVT