A species of tick, twice as large as the most common, is gradually spreading in the south of France.
However, the latter can transmit the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus, in addition to the well-known risk of contracting Lyme disease.
Santé Publique France recently published an alert concerning its presence in France.
As if the presence of ticks did not already arouse enough apprehension when the sunny days arrive, a giant version of this parasite is gaining ground in France. However, this progression goes hand in hand with other risks for human health, besides the now well-known risk of contracting Lyme disease.
Called Hyalomma marginatum, it is nicknamed “giant tick” because of its size, twice as large as that of its congener Ixodes ricinus. If the latter is not currently the cause of any cases of human transmission, Santé Publique France alerted at the end of May of its presence in Corsica and in the south of France, starting with Bouches-du- Rhône, Var and Alpes-Maritimes.
What are we talking about ?
Mainly present in North Africa, southern Europe and Asia, this insect, recognizable by its size and stripes on its legs, has been localized in recent years in Finland, the United Kingdom and part of French Mediterranean coasts. Introduced mainly by migratory birds, it is officially established today in eleven French departments, namely Alpes-Maritimes, Ardèche, Aude, Bouches-du-Rhône, Corse-du-Sud, Drôme, Gard, Haute-Corse, Hérault, Pyrénées-Orientales And Var.
In August 2023, its presence was detected in around ten additional departments, mainly in the PACA region, but also in the Landesin Charentein Indre-et-Loire And in the Loiretaccording to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
We know that unlike their fellow ticks Ixodes ricinus, these ticks track their prey instead of waiting for them. Thus, as soon as they detect the body heat of a living being, vibrations or even the release of carbon dioxide, they begin to run, sometimes for more than ten minutes, over a distance of approximately 100 meters, to install on their host.
Relatively not very mobile the rest of the time due to their small size, these parasites can remain attached to their hosts for 30 days, while feeding. Copulating on their prey, the females, once pregnant, drop to the ground where they can lay up to 7,000 eggs before dying.
Should we be worried?
While dry climates and hot periods are particularly popular with Hyalomma, the latter tends to spread more with climate change. It is also in this context that, last summer, the National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety (ANSES) warned of the risk of“an emergence in France” of the Crimean-Congo fever virus, in a report on the risks to human and animal health from Hyalomma ticks. This virus is most often transmitted by the bite of an infected tick and in rarer cases, by contact with the blood of an infected animal or person.
If “In humans, infection with the CCHF virus most often remains asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic”, the virus can be responsible for hemorrhagic fever, “which can be severe with a fatality rate of 5 to 30%”, noted Public health France. In addition to fever, this infection can cause chills, digestive problems and, in rare cases, uncontrolled bleeding.
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To protect against bites from potentially infected ticks, the Directorate General of Health, ANSES and Public Health France remind you of the preventive measures to adopt. The first is to avoid being bitten by a tick at all costs, in particular by avoiding tall grass and undergrowth, which are the favorite places for ticks, and to favor trails. Otherwise, long, covering clothing for walking in the forest or in tall grass is recommended to prevent ticks from being able to attach to the skin. Experts also recommend wearing light colors: this makes it easier to spot ticks that may have stuck to them. For prevention, an insect repellent can be very useful.
After a walk or hike in a wooded or bushy area, Public Health France recommends scrupulously inspecting your body. To recognize a bite, the most effective way is to look for the animal: a small black or gray dot, in relief. By running your finger over the skin, you can then feel the mite.
