Climate change is affecting not only our weather but also the distribution of parasites and the diseases they can carry. One example is the growing presence of Hyalomma ticks in parts of Europe where they were previously uncommon. These ticks are of particular interest because they can transmit Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV), a pathogen that can cause serious, sometimes life-threatening illness in humans. Hyalomma ticks are typically found in warm and dry regions of Africa, Asia and southern Europe. However, they have increasingly been reported further north, including in Central Europe. Migratory birds may play an important role in their spread: immature ticks can attach to birds and travel long distances before dropping off. As adults, they usually feed on larger animals such as horses, cattle and sheep. This means they can appear in new areas even when local conditions are not yet suitable for permanent establishment.
To better understand the occurrence of these ticks in Hungary, the Eco-epidemiology Research Group
