Ticks are more likely to have sex outdoors, otherwise tick bites threaten

Safe sex in the tick-time
Summer, sun, tick bite: Sex in the open air is very popular with many women and men in the warm season. According to a study by the partner portal "Friendscout24", one third of the 1,000 respondents are open to it. The premium casual dating portal "Secret", which is part of "Friendscout24", asked more closely about 6,000 members. Meadow (74 percent) ranked # 1 of the most popular places for outdoor sex, and 68 percent of respondents said the forest was the best place to spend nice hours outdoors.

Ticks lurk in the tall grass, bushes and undergrowth
But even if a couple is apparently unobserved, in the woods and in the meadow the lovers are never alone. Ticks lurk in the tall grass, bushes and undergrowth. Although the little arachnids have no eyes, they recognize people by the smell. To make sure that outdoor sex is really safe, outdoor fans should think of condoms as well as the TBE vaccine. In Germany there is a risk of TBE infection mainly in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria, in southern Hesse and in southeastern Thuringia. Individual risk areas are also located in Central Hesse, Saarland, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saxony.

The Standing Vaccination Commission (STIKO) at the Robert Koch Institute recommends vaccination for individuals exposed to ticks in areas at risk of FSME. Either because they live there or are on short notice, for example on vacation. Persons living in FSME areas in Germany are entitled to reimbursement of TBE vaccination from the statutory health insurance funds. (4)

Seasonal vaccine protection can be established within a few weeks
If protection is to be achieved in the summer months, there is the possibility of a so-called rapid immunization. Depending on the vaccine, seasonal vaccination can be established within two weeks with two or three vaccinations. The vaccination consultation and the TBE vaccination takes place at the family doctor. Inoculated against FSME, spending time together in nature is much more relaxed.

FSME is still on the rise in Germany. In a tick bite, the infectious disease of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) can be transmitted. According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the number of TBE risk areas has risen to 145. In 2015, the district Hof and the district Ostallgäu as well as the district Greiz in Thuringia were added in Bavaria. (1) All three counties adjoin existing FSME risk areas. In Germany there is a risk of TBE infection mainly in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria, in southern Hesse and in southeastern Thuringia. Individual risk areas are also located in Central Hesse, Saarland, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saxony. In Germany, 265 FSME cases were reported in 2014, most of them in Bavaria (123) and Baden-Württemberg (95).

Authorities recommend: TBE to prevent vaccination
The Standing Vaccination Commission (STIKO) at the Robert Koch Institute recommends TBE vaccination for children and adults exposed to ticks in TBE risk areas. Either because they live there or are on short notice, for example on vacation. (3) Especially now before the summer holidays, when children spend a lot of time in the great outdoors, thought-provoking TBE vaccine protection should be considered. The vaccine is usually well tolerated for adults and children.

The STIKO recommendation also applies to travelers in risk areas outside of Germany, for example in popular holiday regions such as Austria, Sweden or the Baltic states. (3,4) Anyone living in an FSME area is entitled to reimbursement for the vaccination by the health insurance funds. (3) Many health insurances pay the vaccine even when traveling to German and foreign TBE risk areas. (Pm)