Overview

• Officials warn that warming weather is driving a surge in tick activity across Madrid, heightening the risk of serious infections such as Lyme disease, borreliosis and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever.
• The Forest Agents advise wearing light-colored long sleeves, trousers, closed boots and socks while sticking to the center of paths to avoid brushing against vegetation where ticks are most common.
• Use of authorized insect repellents before outdoor excursions is recommended and pet owners should apply antiparasitic treatments and inspect animals on return.
• Safe removal of attached ticks involves using gloves or fine tweezers to grasp the parasite close to the skin and pull straight out without twisting, followed by cleansing the site with soap.
• People should monitor for fever or skin rash in the days after a bite, seek medical care if symptoms appear and examine family members, pets and clothing, laundering garments in hot water.