Bite and point: ticks have become more active in the center of Russia and Siberia
The first ticks have already appeared in Moscow and the Moscow region, Izvestia found out. Bites were also recorded in the Tula region, despite the fact that the snow cover remained there almost until the end of last week. Since the beginning of the year, arthropods have bitten about 100 people in 19 regions of Russia. At the same time, in a number of subjects, as it turned out, there were interruptions with the tick-borne encephalitis vaccine. When is the peak of tick activity expected and how to protect yourself from bites — in the Izvestia article.
Where the ticks have become active
Tick bites in Russia have already been recorded in the Moscow and Tula regions, the Hemotest laboratory told Izvestia. According to Invitro, the parasites began to be brought in for analysis in Moscow.
Since the beginning of 2026, ticks have bitten about 100 Russians in 19 regions of the Russian Federation, Rospotrebnadzor reported earlier. Most of the cases, according to laboratory data, were registered in the south of the country — in the Crimea, the Rostov Region and the Krasnodar Territory. But if the situation is logical with the warm regions, then the cold ones brought a surprise: ticks were brought for inspection in the Altai Territory, where it is currently snowing and subzero temperatures.
"Tick activity usually begins in the third decade of March. The dates vary by region, depending on the height of the snow cover and the spring weather. Peak activity usually occurs between the end of May and the middle of June. However, it occurs in different ways in each subject of the Russian Federation," the ministry said.
What are the dangers of ticks?
The most studied diseases transmitted by ticks are tick—borne encephalitis and borreliosis (Lyme disease), internist and immunologist Irina Yartseva told Izvestia.
— Tick-borne encephalitis can lead to disability and death. Borreliosis does not lead to disability, although in some cases it has a significant impact on a person's quality of life," she noted.
It is found in 49 regions of Russia. At the same time, 17 subjects belong to territories of high epidemiological risk, where the probability of infection is highest. Among them are Kostroma, Vologda, Arkhangelsk, Kirov, Tyumen, Tomsk, Novosibirsk and Irkutsk regions, as well as Karelia, Tuva, Altai Republic, Khakassia, Buryatia, Udmurtia, Perm, Krasnoyarsk and Trans-Baikal Territories.
Borreliosis is an infectious disease caused by Borrelia bacteria and transmitted through the bites of ixodes ticks. Since the beginning of the year, it has been confirmed so far only in parasites that were brought for inspection in the Tula region, the Hemotest clarified. To prevent Lyme disease, the bitten person is given antibiotics, there is no vaccine for it, unlike tick-borne encephalitis, Irina Yartseva clarified.
Tick-borne encephalitis is more aggressive and dangerous than borreliosis, Irina Yartseva reminded. The state of the immune system determines the rate of disease development, just as in the case of Lyme disease.
Ticks also carry rickettsiosis (affects the vascular system), anaplasmosis (affects cells of the immune system), ehrlichiosis (affects vital organs and can be fatal), babesiosis (can be fatal), Andrey Pozdnyakov, an infectious disease specialist at Invitro, told Izvestia. He advised transferring the arthropod to a laboratory test as soon as possible after the bite.
— Examination of the tick itself makes it possible to quickly assess the likelihood of infection. At an early stage after a bite, the human immune system does not produce enough antibodies yet, so blood tests may not show an accurate result," the doctor added.
How to protect yourself from ticks
"Ticks live according to their own laws, climatic conditions, and evolutionary ones," Gennady Onishchenko, academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences and deputy president of the Russian Academy of Education, told Izvestia. — Now there is a sharp warming, the ticks will wake up.
He advised the Russians to get vaccinated. This will help you prepare for the spring and summer season.
"You can also find a tick in winter, but this is not a systemic issue," he said.
Even if the region is not endemic, you should wear closed clothing in nature that fits snugly to the body so that the tick cannot get under it.
— You need to examine yourself. If you see sucking, do not panic. It is worth calling a medical institution where the tick will be removed, after which it will be examined," added Gennady Onishchenko.
It is worth examining yourself after walking both in the morning and in the evening, since an uninvited guest can be brought home on clothes, Irina Yartseva added.
— In the forest, you can use a spray to treat skin or clothing. It is mandatory to wear closed clothes, a hat, because the ticks cling to the hair," she said.
It is better to get vaccinated in the winter months and in early spring, when the probability of encountering ticks is low, explained Andrey Pozdnyakov.
— The classic scheme includes the first two vaccinations, which are performed approximately three to four weeks apart. After that, the body begins to form immune defenses," the doctor noted. — The third dose is administered one year after the first and completes the basic course of immunization. In the future, it is recommended to carry out revaccination once every three years to maintain protection.
Problems with vaccination
In some regions, there have been interruptions with the tick-borne encephalitis vaccine. For example, residents of St. Petersburg have not been able to get vaccinated since January, Ekaterina Ponomareva, a city resident, told Izvestia.
"I've been vaccinating myself, my parents, my husband, and my son against tick—borne encephalitis for more than ten years, as we often go out of town to the country," she explained. — I have a revaccination this year. I couldn't get vaccinated in a timely manner due to the lack of a vaccine.
According to the St. Petersburg woman, she has been calling clinics since January, but she has not found a vaccine. Then Ekaterina contacted the insurance company, which made a request to the health department. They replied that the vaccine would arrive in the Moskovsky district of St. Petersburg only in mid-April.
— At this time, it's too late to even carry out revaccination, not to mention the first vaccine. If there is any treatment for borreliosis, then encephalitis is at best a disability," Ekaterina added. — The vaccine should be available all year round, not in April. Now, to protect ourselves, we have to make the vaccine for a fee. The cost is from 1.7 thousand to 4 thousand rubles. For a family of three, this is a very significant amount.
There is also a shortage of the drug in Karelia. This year, the demand for the vaccine has increased dramatically, which is why there are not enough doses for everyone.
— We expect the children's vaccine against encephalitis to be delivered to the republic within two weeks. As for the adult, we are waiting for her to leave the defect in mid—April," said Alexander Romanov, Deputy Minister of Health of the republic, at a meeting of the Committee on Health and Social Policy of the legislative assembly of the region.
According to the compulsory medical insurance policy, it is possible to get vaccinated against tick-borne encephalitis according to epidemic indications. First of all, residents of regions where there is a risk of infection, or those who travel to such regions, are vaccinated. At the same time, Russians who have been bitten by an infected tick can receive anti-tick immunoglobulin for free.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
