The Commission has been sought for its opinions on the following matters:
In the coming year, the "Habitrack" project is set to begin, with a focus on better mapping FSME hotspots. The area near Haselmuhl in the Upper Palatinate is one such hotspot, where the dangerous tick-borne virus poses a significant threat.
Geography and climate play a crucial role in the prevalence of FSME. Haselmuhl, with its transition from forest to meadow, offers an ideal habitat for ticks, who thrive in air humidity of 85 percent. This, combined with the presence of suitable animal hosts like mice, contributes to the high tick density in the area.
Mice, which often find food and shelter in blackberry bushes, are often infested with ticks. The likelihood of encountering infected ticks is particularly high near blackberry bushes, making them a potential hotspot within the hotspot.
One infected mouse in Haselmuhl was found to have 80 ticks, which is 20 times the usual amount. This highlights the potential for a high tick density to increase the risk of FSME transmission. However, it's important to note that a high number of ticks does not necessarily mean that the FSME risk is higher than usual.
The FSME virus was studied during the Cold War for its potential as a biological weapon. Today, researchers like Gerhard Dobler and Lidia Chitimia-Dobler, specialists in Microbiology and heads of their respective laboratories in Munich, Germany, continue to study the virus. The Doblers take precautions when conducting research, wearing protective clothing and equipment to avoid tick bites.
The Doblers also collect ticks separately: Lidia Chitimia towards the meadow, Gerhard Dobler in the forest. The ticks are later examined for FSME in a lab.
The model from the "Habitrack" project could show which areas have a particularly high FSME risk. By understanding the factors contributing to FSME hotspots, researchers can develop strategies to mitigate the risk and protect the public.
In conclusion, the area near Haselmuhl is a unique FSME hotspot, influenced by factors such as geography, climate, tick population dynamics, animal hosts, and environmental conditions. Further localized studies focusing on tick populations, environmental conditions, and possibly genetic analysis of the virus in the area would provide a more comprehensive understanding of the situation.
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