A biologist has reported an invasion of dangerous mutant ticks in southern Russia.

An invasion of dangerous mutant ticks resistant to hunger, extreme weather conditions and aerosol sprays has been recorded in the south of Russia. This was announced on Wednesday, March 19, by biologist Dmitry Safonov.

According to the expert, these insects belong to the Hyalomma genus and are not typical for Russian regions, as they live in Africa and Asia. Individuals could have been transferred to the territory of the Russian Federation by migratory birds or originated there due to climatic changes.

"These are real hunters. If our ticks near Moscow are "partisans" who sit quietly in the grass and wait for you to pass by, then the Hyalomma behaves aggressively. They see the victim and run after her. Moreover, their speed of movement is several times higher than that of the individuals we are used to. It's difficult to escape from such a sprinter," Safonov said in an interview with aif.ru .

Another distinctive feature that makes it possible to identify a new species of ticks is their appearance. Firstly, they are larger than ordinary ones, and secondly, their paws are covered with stripes, which is why the Hyalomma is also called a "zebra".

The ticks in question are capable of enduring extreme heat, wintering in Russia, and even enduring starvation. The bite of such an insect threatens, in addition to the occurrence of standard symptoms, as the specialist warned, the development of Congo-Crimean hemorrhagic fever.

"The first symptoms are similar to the flu: fever, aches, headache. But then the bleeding, seizures and confusion begin," he added.

Currently, "zebras" are recorded in the Volgograd, Rostov and Astrakhan regions, Stavropol, Krasnodar Territory, Kalmykia and the republics of the Caucasus, in particular in Dagestan and Ingushetia.

Bite and point: ticks have become more active in the center of Russia and Siberia

Interruptions in vaccines against encephalitis are observed in at least two regions of the country, Izvestia found out

Vadim Marinsky, senior lecturer at the Faculty of Biomedical Physics at MIPT, reminded Russians on March 16 of the importance of vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis. He stated that the ticks begin to appear almost immediately after the snow leaves the ground and a stable positive temperature forms on the surface. The specialist noted that vaccination is especially relevant for those who live in regions with increased activity of these insects.

On March 19, Alina Fedorova, a veterinarian at the animal disease control station of the CAO and NWAO, called on Moscow residents to start treating their pets for ticks. According to her, it is worth doing this even if the cat or dog does not go outside, as the tick can enter the house from the street.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.