Spain health officials start to monitor cases of two tick-borne illnesses

Spain has initiated a tick-monitoring project amid increasing cases of two severe tick-borne illnesses.

With the upsurge in instances of Lyme disease and Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF), Spanish health authorities have incorporated tick surveillance into their National Plan for Surveillance and Control of Vector-borne Diseases. The impetus for this added focus comes with concerns that cases of both diseases may continue to escalate within Spain.

Ticks are notorious carriers of various pathogens, such as viruses, bacteria, and protozoa, which they transmit through their blood-feeding bites. Two ailments deemed particularly concerning and targeted by the new investigation are Lyme disease and CCHF.

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Discussing Lyme disease, Lucia Garcia San Miguel, head of the Coordination Center for Health Alerts and Emergencies (CCAES), commented: "It is not an infection that is cured and that's it, but over the months, manifestations can continue to appear and it can cause serious and disabling sequelae for life, but it is extremely difficult to diagnose because there are no adequate methods."

CCHF, closely associated with the Nairovirus genus in the Bunyaviridae family, is prevalent in myriad regions across Africa, the Balkans, the Middle East, and Asia, and is noted for its high mortality rate of 10% to 40%. This necessitates prompt detection and supportive treatment to enhance the prospects for patient recovery, reports Gloucestershire Live.

With Spain having recorded 15 cases over the past eight years, Garcia San Miguel voiced the anticipation of further escalation, saying: "We believe it will increase."

Lyme disease is predominantly found in the northern regions of Spain, specifically Asturias and Galicia, but it has also been detected across the country. Cases of CCHF are primarily located in Salamanca and Extremadura.

There's been a sharp rise in tick bites in Spain - with Valencia witnessing a six-fold increase over the past five years.

Lyme disease can trigger a range of symptoms, typically divided into early and late stages:.

• Early Localized Stage (3-30 days after tick bite).

• Early Disseminated Stage (days to weeks after tick bite).

• Late Disseminated Stage (months to years after tick bite).

• CCHF symptoms usually evolve through several phases:.

• Pre-hemorrhagic phase (1-7 days).

• Hemorrhagic phase (starts around the 4th day).

• Convalescent phase (recovery phase).

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