Polish health agencies warn of hidden danger from tick nymphs

Medical experts in Poland stress that tick nymphs – the tiny, often translucent stage of the common tick – are easy to miss, resembling a freckle, dust speck or small skin blemish. Their size (about the head of a pin or a poppy seed) allows them to remain attached for days, increasing the risk of transmitting pathogens such as the bacteria that cause Lyme disease, the virus responsible for tick‑borne encephalitis, as well as agents of anaplasmosis and babesiosis.

The nymphs are found not only in dense woods but also in urban parks, gardens and grassy lawns. After any walk, people are urged to shower, examine the entire body under good light, and especially check areas like the knees, groins, armpits and behind the ears. If a nymph is found, it should be removed with fine‑point tweezers close to the skin, the bite site disinfected, and any symptoms monitored for up to a month.