a giant tick worries doctors

The Hyalomma marginatum tick has a particularity: it is much larger than the others. It actually measures around 8 mm, compared to 1 to 5 mm for the most common species. Hence its nickname “giant tick”. Originally from certain regions of Africa, this large tick has established itself in the south of France, where it has been spotted in many departments.

The situation concerns health authorities. Because this tick can not only transmit Lyme disease, but also another virus, called Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus. Symptoms of this illness are usually flu-like symptoms and digestive upset. In France, at this stage, no human cases have been identified. Most of the time, the bites are without consequences.