Scientists expect early tick invasion in Russia due to snowy winter

The abundance of snow could help ticks safely survive severe frosts, say experts from the Kant IKBFU Higher School of Living Systems.

As Vestnik of the Surgut Region writes with reference to RIA Novosti, thick winter snowdrifts and a dense cushion of dry grass became an excellent shelter, thanks to which the arachnids were protected from frost. Parasites begin to wake up at temperatures just above zero, and at ten degrees Celsius they become maximally active.

If the coming spring turns out to be warm and the snow melts quickly, the first cases of bites are possible as early as April. In this case, the traditional peak of tick activity will shift from early summer to mid-May, and the population itself will be significantly larger than usual due to high survival rates.

Earlier, Rospotrebnadzor of the Krasnoyarsk Territory reminded residents that vaccination is the only reliable way to prevent this serious disease and its consequences.

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