IMM is intensively carrying out its work on ticks that come to light in the summer months with professional teams in the field. In line with the demands from Istanbulites, rapid intervention is carried out in the spots where ticks are detected. In this way, public health and the environment are protected; and Istanbulites are also provided with a comfortable summer.
Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Health Affairs Department Vector Control Unit continues its vector control activities to protect public health throughout Istanbul.
RAPID INTERVENTION WITH ON-SITE DETECTION
The demands from Istanbulites against the increasing tick density, especially during the summer season, are detected on-site and rapid interventions are made.
Tick control efforts are carried out at designated points in areas where ticks are detected in the field, after Istanbulites share a tick sample with the institution and submit a tick contact report from a health institution. With this approach, IMM ensures the protection of beneficial creatures in nature and environmental sustainability.
“WE ARE PREVENTING INFECTIOUS DISEASES WITH THE CORRECT METHODS”
Making statements regarding the tick cases that started to be seen with the warming of the weather and the studies that IMM has done in this area, IMM Health Affairs Department Head Dr. Lecturer Önder Yüksel Eryiğit said the following:
“Currently, tick cases seen in the Central and Eastern Anatolia regions, which are on the country’s agenda, are also on our agenda in Istanbul. Ticks are widespread in our country and the world. It is not possible to completely clean ticks. However, we can prevent their intensification with correct and rapid intervention methods, and we can prevent infectious diseases such as Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever by increasing the awareness levels of our citizens. In the meantime, I would like to state that not every tick bite causes CCHF disease. If the CCHF virus is found in certain types of ticks that cause cases, there is a risk of transmission when the ticks come into contact with the person. It is seen that the total number of CCHF cases seen in our country in the last 20 years is around 15-20 thousand. Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever, which is transmitted by ticks, causes nearly 1000 cases and nearly 50 deaths in our country every year.”
“WE PREVENT TICK DENSITY WITH CONSCIOUS AND RAPID INTERVENTION”
Eryiğit said, “This year, the Istanbul Provincial Health Directorate announced that a total of 7.002 tick bite cases were reported to health institutions throughout the city. 88% of these cases (6.165 cases) occurred only in April, May and June. When we look at this result, we see that the seasonal risk in ticks is directly related to the periods when ticks are biologically active.”
Considering the data of the Istanbul Provincial Health Directorate and the IMM Health Affairs Department, “While a total of 2024 tick complaints were reported in 1.416, a total of 2025 tick complaints were recorded as of June 1.185.”
“THE RISK OF CRIMEAN-CONGO HEMORRHAGIC FEVER IN ISTANBUL IS LOW”
“Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever is a zoonotic disease carried by Hyalomma ticks and can be fatal,” said Eryiğit, adding, “The vast majority of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever cases in Türkiye are recorded in the Central and Eastern Anatolia regions. One of the main reasons for this distribution is seen to be bird migration routes and the biological distribution of ticks.”
Eryiğit said, “Although Istanbul is located in a transition area on the Africa-Eurasia bird migration route, migratory birds mostly pass through without stopping and it is known that settled accommodation areas are more limited compared to rural areas. It is seen that species such as Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever and Hyalomma marginatum have difficulty in establishing sustainable populations in Istanbul’s urban and humid climate conditions. When we look at the result, the risk of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever in Istanbul is relatively low. As the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Health Affairs Department, we ensure that this risk is reduced by implementing integrated combat and risk-based pesticide spraying strategies with district municipalities and other institutions and organizations.”
METHODS OF PROTECTION AGAINST TICKS
Eryiğit listed the tick protection methods for Istanbulites as follows;
- When going to areas with tick risk such as fields, vineyards, gardens, forests and picnic areas, clothes that cover the body as much as possible should be worn to prevent ticks from entering the body. Trouser legs should be tucked into socks and light-colored clothes should be preferred so that ticks can be seen more easily on clothing.
- When returning from areas at risk of ticks, the person should check whether there are ticks on their own bodies and those of their children (including behind the ears, under the arms, in the groin and behind the knees). If a tick is attached, it should be removed immediately with a suitable material (such as a cloth, plastic bag, glove) by grasping it from the closest point to the body, without touching it with bare hands.
- If a person cannot remove the tick themselves, they should go to the nearest health institution. It should be remembered that the earlier the tick is removed, the less likely it is that the disease will be transmitted.
- Since the disease progresses without showing symptoms in animals, animals in areas where the disease is common can transmit the disease even if they appear healthy. For this reason, animals' blood, body fluids or tissues should not be touched with bare hands.
- Since the disease can be transmitted through the blood, body fluids and excretions of infected people, people who come into contact with the patient should take the necessary protective measures (gloves, apron, mask, etc.).
- People who have been bitten by a tick should monitor themselves for symptoms such as fatigue, loss of appetite, fever, muscle pain, headache, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea for 10 days, and if one or more of these symptoms occur, they should immediately apply to the nearest health institution.
- Ticks, which are the carriers, carriers and transmitters of the disease-causing microbe, are arthropod animals that do not fly or jump, but climb onto the body by walking on the ground. Ticks that cling to the body or are found on animals should never be killed or burst with bare hands.
- Pouring substances such as cologne on ticks should not be done as it will cause the tick to contract and transfer its body contents to the person it is sucking blood from.
