gittiharre
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- Time of past OR future Camino
- 2022 Camino Portuguese and Primitivo
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We walked through grass on the Salvador and my friend ended up with about 5 ticks all over her body. I managed to get them all out. Aside from that, I found about 3 or 4 crawling on me whilst walking in Germany. One just started to embed and I got it out just in time.I've never heard of anyone getting ticks on the Camino. Ticks live in the underbrush and tall grass. They hang out until an animal or human animal passes by and they hitch a ride and burrow in. Unless you get off the path or road I don't think you'll run into a tick.
That's an old thread but there IS lyme disease in Spain, so it makes sense to be vigilant.For some reason, I don't know why, I am suddenly pre occupied with the worry of getting ticks...are these likely to be an issue during late summer? Should I wear long pants? I hate hiking in long pants....
Thanks for your collective wisdom!
On my longest day on the Salvador from Poladura to Campomanes I read something on this forum about ticks, but I was too exhausted to try to find a mirror to perform a whole body check. Fortunately, I seem to have been spared.We walked through grass on the Salvador and my friend ended up with about 5 ticks all over her body. I managed to get them all out.
Since the Salvador isn't very well traveled there are lots of places where you walk through a narrow overgrown path. I used my poles to clear the way ahead of me. In the back of my mind were the warnings about ticks. Quite different from the Francés, Norte, Portuguese, etc.Never seen a tick on any of my walks.
Good point. The same especially applies to where you might need to squat.you want to be careful where you sit, because they can attach to your lower back or to your backpack and then onto you.
That is very interesting info, thank you!I've also not walked any routes in Spain or France where I've been concerned about ticks but I suppose routes that have been idle for a while may have become overgrown and hence a possible site (thinking of a recent thread about overgrown paths on the VdlP). Ticks are a problem around us here (suburban Sydney). We use an engine starter aerosol spray ("Aerostart") - it freezes them and they drop off. Wart freeze does the same thing but I'm wary because of the possibility of burning the surrounding skin. For a dozen nymph ticks on a grandchild I used a permethrin cream ("Lyclear", made to get rid of scabies). It worked. If you are paranoid about getting ticks perhaps a small tube in your pack?
Interesting! I never lie or sit down on grass for that reason, even though I would love to. In Germany people get vaccinated, but it is a drawn out process, as you need several shots.It isn't just a tick attaching and how to remove it. They can carry diseases.
I was tick bit on the Meseta. Had stopped where some other pilgrims were by a small copse of trees. Short grass. I lay down on my back, my loose shirt rode up, felt something on my lower back, sat up and brushed it off ... I developed the Lyme's disease pinky-red rosette around the entry point - had caught Lyme's .... so I now know that they don't even need to fully attach to you to transfer Lyme's disease, so take care.
As for long trousers - I don't like them either but concern should be where your body brushes grass, long or short, as that is where they transfer - maybe gaiters to put on in those sections?
Or Kanga's answer - which is basically live without fear but carry a tube of something with you?
Wow! I will take tick repellent for sure.I got five ticks in one day four days ago on the Geira, and Wendy got four across two days. We removed them and bought and started using tick repellent and haven’t seen any since.
Wendy walks in leggings that go just below the knee. I was walking in zip-off shorts that day because it was rainy and my rain gear doesn’t cover below my knees. I was also walking in flip-flops (long story). Two of the ticks were around my ankles but three of them were above my knees.
Can you please share any info you have about the repellent you used. ThanksI got five ticks in one day four days ago on the Geira, and Wendy got four across two days. We removed them and bought and started using tick repellent and haven’t seen any since.
Wendy walks in leggings that go just below the knee. I was walking in zip-off shorts that day because it was rainy and my rain gear doesn’t cover below my knees. I was also walking in flip-flops (long story). Two of the ticks were around my ankles but three of them were above my knees.
Thank you I will look for some when i get into spainIt’s mostly mosquito repellent but is apparently also effective against ticks (garrapatas in Spanish) as indicated on the bottle.
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What are the ingredients? Can you post a picture of the ingredients list?It’s mostly mosquito repellent but is apparently also effective against ticks (garrapatas in Spanish) as indicated on the bottle.
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Vaccinated against lymes disease I didn't know that was possible?Interesting! I never lie or sit down on grass for that reason, even though I would love to. In Germany people get vaccinated, but it is a drawn out process, as you need several shots.
Interestingly there was a vaccine against Lyme in the US, but the manufacturer discontinued it because there wasn't enough demand.Vaccinated against lymes disease I didn't know that was possible?
Lyme disease (borreliosis) or FSME?In Germany people get vaccinated, but it is a drawn out process, as you need several shots.
Ticks can also cause Alpha-gal syndrome, which causes an allergic reaction to the consumption of mammalian meat. I met a young woman who had this syndrome in Melide in 2019 at Pulpería Ezequiel happily feasting on pulpo.Ticks can carry two diseases: TBE (tick-borne encephalitis) and Lyme borreliosis.
Nice to hear, few ticks atre on the loose on the caminos.
At your own home, under shading trees and in tall, lush grass, they can be a local menace
Remembered this video on the perfect tick hunter:
I had never heard about this, @trecile . Thank you for that information.Ticks can also cause Alpha-gal syndrome, which causes an allergic reaction to the consumption of mammalian meat. I met a young woman who had this syndrome in Melide in 2019 at Pulpería Ezequiel happily feasting on pulpo.
Omg! The mind boggles at the non covid risks we lived with for years without second thoughts.Ticks can also cause Alpha-gal syndrome, which causes an allergic reaction to the consumption of mammalian meat. I met a young woman who had this syndrome in Melide in 2019 at Pulpería Ezequiel happily feasting on pulpo.
We walked part of the VF in summer (2019) and my husband picked up a tick in Tuscany. I packed tweezers, just in case and easily extracted the tick. After finding the beastie on him, we paid a bit more attention on the next few days as we walked and could see them hanging out on the long grass beside the track. It didn't take long for us both to forget about them and simply enjoy walking. Be prepared, but don't worry too much about them...take tweezers and check out your skin for passengers when you're brushing against grass etc. Enjoy your trip!Hi. I am about to set off on the Primitivo/Finesterre routes later in July. ( COVID permitting).
So far, on my many caminoes, I have worn shorts, rain, cold or shine. For some reason, I don't know why, I am suddenly pre occupied with the worry of getting ticks...are these likely to be an issue during late summer? Should I wear long pants? I hate hiking in long pants....
Thanks for your collective wisdom!
Just send the fowls ( collective noun is a Confusion of Guinea fowl, understandably ) ahead at a day´s distance,I like this - so, if I can train a couple of Guinea fowl to walk ahead of me I am sorted? Protected? I like that!
I thought that was connected mostly with the Lone Star variety of ticks...do these even live in Europe?Ticks can also cause Alpha-gal syndrome, which causes an allergic reaction to the consumption of mammalian meat. I met a young woman who had this syndrome in Melide in 2019 at Pulpería Ezequiel happily feasting on pulpo.
I don't know. I just mentioned it as it's another tick borne condition.I thought that was connected mostly with the Lone Star variety of ticks...do these even live in Europe?
Bought these, when I was walking the Le Puy Route.I don't want to "advertise" a brand but these are the kind of thing to pack.
Just pulling a tick out can leave the mouth parts behind causing later problems. They have a barbed proboscis so twisting breaks the barbs. Bare legs are fine until one 'goes bush' for privacy or sits or lies down for a snack / rest! Walking through long grass or bracken can cause problems - open tracks and paths on the Primitivo or other Caminos are fine.Home
Did you know that around 3,000 people in the UK contract Lyme disease (Borreliosis) from tick bites every year* and that Lyme disease is more prevalent than previously thought? ** Did you know that both you and your pets could be at risk from tick bites in many areas of the countryside and evenwww.ticktwister.co.uk
Go and enjoy!
Tio Tel
I've only walked the four most popular Spain Caminos, but in addition never saw one the Le Puy route either. No matter when I walk again or whichever route, I will start doing tick checks end of day.I haven't walked La Puy Route but I have never seen a tick on any of the other routes I've walked. Ever.
can you eat them afterwards?Just send the fowls ( collective noun is a Confusion of Guinea fowl, understandably ) ahead at a day´s distance,
- Collect when you reach the destination and send by JacoTrans another day ahead.
So by applying 2 groups, you will be fine.......
I picked up some ticks on the Rota Vicenta when I stepped off the track for a wizzy. The pharmacist next day gave me a tick remover (for future occurrences – I still have it in my first aid kit), and some ointment. Lesson learned: stay on the track!
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