During the first weekend of the emergency epidemic situation parks were opened to the public and processed for ticks.

“Nevertheless the risk remains and increases greatly in areas where there is unmown grass,” said Tsezarina Ilieva, head of the Parasitology department of the Sofia health inspectorate.

“There is no evidence of blood-sucking insects transmitting Covid-19. This is highly unlikely in view of the structure of the coronavirus,” Ilieva explained.

In our region ticks transmit Lyme disease, Boutonneuse fever and Q fever, that is why she urges the public to regularly check over high-risk parts of their body after taking walks or spending time in grassy spaces.