Tick Bite? Here’s How to Remove a Tick Correctly According to an Expert Entomologist from the Insect Center Lieteberg in Zutendaal, Belgium, to Prevent the Spread of Bacteria and Inflammation During Tick Season Starting in April.

2023-04-26 15:32:42

Already a tick bite? You’re not alone: ​​tick season starts in April, and the humid weather is ideal for the critters. But how to remove a tick correctly? Zoë Vanstraelen, entomologist at the insect center Lieteberg in Zutendaal, explains.

“Speed ​​is important: the faster the tick is removed, the smaller the chance that the bacteria will be transmitted,” says the researcher. “Pull the tick straight up in one gentle motion, and don’t twist. That is often misunderstood. It is important not to put ether or alcohol on the tick itself: then the tick can empty its stomach contents, so that more bacteria end up in the skin. You should grab the tick as close to the skin as possible so that you don’t squeeze the body of the tick. This can be done with a tick pliers or fine tweezers.”

“Actually, everyone should have a tick remover at home,” adds Vanstraelen. “There are also tick cards: a hard card with a bulge that you can stick under the tick. The tick then releases. If you simply remove a tick with the nails, the stinging snout can remain. That can cause inflammation.”