Steep rise in tick-borne diseases

The number of tick-borne diseases has seen a steep rise this year with roughly 1,900 cases of Lyme disease reported by the end of June, which is the highest number in the last decade, according to data from the State Institute of Health. There have been 362 cases of tick-borne encephalitis so far. Both diseases can also have lasting effects, including paralysis of the limbs or impaired memory in serious cases. Last year doctors registered 3,270 cases of Lyme disease and 509 cases of encephalitis. According to a survey by Czech scientists, there are more ticks in city parks than in forests, with one in four transmitting Lyme disease.