The extraordinary presence of ticks in La Plana Baixa, in the province of Castellón, is generating growing concern among farmers and agricultural workers. The Valencian Association of Farmers (AVA-ASAJA) has received new testimonies highlighting the worsening situation, which is already affecting daily work and poses a health risk.
Some farmers and workers have required medical attention following bites, which in certain cases have been accompanied by fever and necessitated hospitalization. The scale of the problem is making access to some agricultural holdings difficult, with work crews encountering fields heavily infested with ticks on the vegetation.
Testimonies collected describe alarming situations, with farmers reporting removing up to twenty ticks after performing field tasks. Cases of children with dozens of these parasites on their heads after frequenting rural areas have also been reported.
AVA-ASAJA also expresses concern regarding the average age of Valencian farmers, which could increase their vulnerability. Furthermore, the problem affects companion animals, with cases of severely affected dogs and even deaths due to the presence of these parasites.
The organization reminds the public that ticks can be found in various rural areas such as vegetation, paths, abandoned plots, and ravines, exposing not only farmers but also the general population who walk, cycle, or engage in sports in these spaces. Consequently, AVA-ASAJA calls for urgent action from the authorities regarding a situation they now consider a public health issue.
