Tick season remains concerning amid warnings of “super tick” in Finland

This summer has seen a tick population that is, on average, similar to previous years. Eero Vesterinen, a docent at the University of Turku’s Department of Biology, notes that there are local variations. “We’ve received reports of ticks appearing more than ever before. It’s difficult to tell if individuals have simply been outdoors less in the past or are now spending more time outside. Scientifically, it’s hard to confirm the amount,” he explained.

The tick season is not over yet. Vesterinen warns that if the sun warms a spot or deer have just rested there, passersby could easily get ticks on their skin. Therefore, a tick check is advisable. Besides the common ticks, concern has also been raised regarding the appearance of the taiga tick in the area between Rovaniemi and Lempäälä, as well as in eastern Finland.

The so-called “super tick” is still emerging, and Vesterinen does not believe it will manifest immediately. The term refers to a hypothetical tick that could transmit diseases carried by both the common tick and the taiga tick. “If a common tick breeds with a taiga tick, it is theoretically possible that it could acquire traits from both species. However, this is not straightforward, as most hybrid ticks cannot reproduce,” he remarked.

Research is ongoing into the genomic and chromosomal aspects that could pose risks of a super tick and new pathogens emerging. It is possible that new pathogens might enter Finland along with incoming ticks or birds from the south, Vesterinen concluded.