In Vilnius, which has been applying the policy of sustainable mowing for the third season, the number of tick-borne diseases is decreasing. Specialists explain this by self-regulatory mechanisms - there are more animals that feed on ticks in taller grass.
In order to protect biodiversity, mowing in Vilnius has been abandoned where it is not necessary: on the slopes of bypasses, on the dividing lanes of most streets, on traffic rings - where people and domesticated animals rarely or never come. These and similar areas are mowed as needed, several times a year or not at all.
In the capital's public spaces and yards, grass is cut only when it has grown taller than 10 cm. Unless the community turns to their ward and asks them to mow less often, protecting the biodiversity in the area they live in.
In order to protect against ticks and for the sake of order, 1,5-2 m of grass is left at the asphalted footpaths or simply through the green area. Lawns of the same width are left next to the roadway, so that taller grass does not turn into the street, and does not disturb pedestrians or cyclists. The remaining areas are left natural.
Specialists note that the number of ticks is naturally regulated by the animals that feed on them: woodpeckers, frogs, toads, lizards, various types of birds, predatory insects (e.g. beetles, parasitic wasps), ants, spiders, which survive best in the most natural environment possible.
Milda Žygutienė, specialist in infectious diseases of the National Public Health Center, entomologist Milda Žygutienė says that as the climate warms, more warm-blooded animals survive the winters, so ticks have favorable conditions for feeding - they feed on the blood of mice, rats, squirrels, foxes, roe deer, wolves and other warm-blooded animals. Unkept green spaces, tall grass that is not cut in season create suitable conditions for the spread of ticks in those areas. Ticks are spread all over Lithuania, therefore, regardless of the region, the risk of contracting diseases spread by them - tick-borne encephalitis and Lyme disease - is everywhere, everyone must be careful. Vaccinations have a significant impact on the control of one of the diseases spread by ticks - tick-borne encephalitis - so greater public vaccination is an aspiration.
According to the National Public Health Center, in Vilnius, as in the whole of Lithuania, in 2020 and 2021, the number of tick-borne diseases decreased, despite the fact that the weather conditions were favorable for their reproduction, as is the case every year.
in Vilnius in 2020 124 people were infected with tick-borne encephalitis, 742 people had Lyme disease (679 and 2865 respectively in all of Lithuania). in 2021 cases of illness decreased in Vilnius: 101 people got tick-borne encephalitis, 477 - Lyme disease (365 and 1780 respectively in all of Lithuania).
in 2022 so far, 5 cases of tick-borne encephalitis and 66 cases of Lyme disease have been recorded in Vilnius.
The National Public Health Center is currently preparing to update information on tick infestation in the capital.
