When is Tick Season in South Africa
Ticks are a threat year-round; they’re not just a problem in the spring and summer. Around 8°C is when these spiders awaken from their winter slumber. These bloodsuckers are dangerous not only to humans but also to animals because they spread bacteria that cause diseases.
Experts believe that every fourth tick contains germs, and the incidence of illnesses with Lyme disease, TBE, and babesiosis is increasing.
What season is tick season?
Ticks are most common in South Africa during the warmer months of the year, and Netcare Travel Clinics warns tourists, foreign visitors, hikers, campers, and farmers to be cautious of potentially fatal and serious tick-borne infections during this time of year.
With the most activity in May and June, decreases as fall approaches (October). The majority of these spiders are found in mixed and deciduous woodlands. They wait for their prey at a height of up to 1.5 meters, perched on grasses and ferns.
Where are they mostly found in South Africa?
The Eastern Cape and Kruger National Park were the two endemic regions that were most frequently listed. In these regions, diseased ticks can be found in grasslands, forest edges, and underbrush and can brush onto your clothing or skin.
When do symptoms from a tick bite appear?
Typically, 5 to 7 days after being bitten by an infected tick, a person becomes ill. Early symptoms include a headache, which is frequently very bad, a fever, and body aches. The majority of the time, the tick must be affixed for at least 36 to 48 hours before the bacterium that causes Lyme disease can be spread. The majority of human infections are caused by nymphal tick bites, which are immature ticks.
What transpires if a bite is not noticed
A doctor should be consulted if you can’t get rid of a tick’s head entirely. The risk of some bacterial infections does increase when a tick’s head is left under the skin, but not the risk of Lyme disease or other tick-borne diseases.
Where are they located?
The majority of these spiders are found in mixed and deciduous woodlands. They wait for their prey at a height of up to 1.5 meters, perched on grasses and ferns. The eyeless “vampires” of the ticks can identify a host animal thanks to Haller’s organ, a sensory organ on the front legs. They use their mouth parts that resemble scissor to pierce the host’s skin and take the blood. Before passing away, they gorge themselves for days on the host animal.
