Beasties [in Switzerland]?

Actually that map is only about FSME (or whatever the French call tick borne encephalitis). Lyme disease is all over the country and by far the greater risk.

It's OK, doesn't seem to have reached Fribourg area as yet.

We were told to get the encephalitis vax and hep, last time we saw our doc, I wonder if it is worth it. There is no vaccine to Lyme, is there?

Phew!!!!!!!!

So come on- time to tell us... are you coming soon, and where? Why are you so afraid of kritters, are you allergic or just a woos?

Ha ha we're arriving in about 6 weeks to fribourg! I'm so excited!!!! It's gonna be great switzerland is not going to know what's hit it! Who's up for a wee party??? By the way I'm not a total woose! Just don't like the dark and moths are a bit weird! Apart from that it's all good!!!

I don't really see why this was put in off-topic. I've shoved it over to Other/General as we mostly get them at some time or Other and they are a General nuisance.

Although not such a problem as in some other countries, for many folk these little creeping, crawling, biting beasts are still a challenge here. What are they and how do I get rid of them when they have made their home in my garden/balcony/flat/kitchen/food containers?

I disagree, unless you live near Music Chick it really is a problem if you regularly walk in the countryside (See her map), you should seek medical advice on readily available vaccinations against Lyme diseases, they can produce a life long disability of 'flu like symptoms.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyme_disease I understand there is a bacterium disease and a virus based disease, also in the canton of Fribourg! (See map, it includes Morat-Murten)

I'm just glad nobody has mentioned midgees!

Don't worry, there's plenty of mossies

There are huge spiders here...I saw one the size of my fist yesterday.

That's quite disgusting. Bleuch!

They aren't 'readily available' though - at least not for humans. I think there is a doggy vaccine.

The standard "tick injection" you can get here is for the tick-borne encephalitis virus (FSME in German, stands for F rüh s ommer- M eningo e nzephalitis), NOT Lyme disease ('Borreliose') which is bacterial.

All you can do in regard to Lyme disease is be sensible about it, try not to get bitten, and monitor any bites you do get carefully for a month afterward. If you see the Lyme rash developing - and it's very distinctive - off you go to the doctor who will prescribe a course of antibiotics.

The good news is that thorough daily tick checks are highly effective. Even if you do get bitten, the disease is very unlikely to be transmitted in the first 24hr of feeding ( source ) so as long as you locate and detach ticks the same day you should be all right.

The vax is for encephalitis, I concur.

But the rash does not have to happen. Or can be very small, depends.

Last time I have been warned against Lyme, though, it was not only tics, it was also a certain type of small fly and a mosquito (I don't think they proven it, nor negated).

A friend had boreliosis, she ran around docs in Lausanne who treated her for rheumatic arthritis for months, then she finally took an overnight bus to Czech and there is was finally diagnosed. Docs don't sometimes think of Lyme, the symptoms vary.

I wished there were. Honest.

Sometimes I do these long walks out there in the lovely nature and I get to see ... guess what .... nothing.

Always disappoints me at little.

I know..However, we do have a thread or two on here on Alpine nudists, don't forget.

yeah what a turn on eh!!! I'd rather be shocked by a green bold snake than a bold white arse I must say.

I'm with you on that one having had first hand experience of the latter quite recently.

A snake or butt are better to be kept in the lederhosen while out and about, me thinks.

Back to the other kinds of beasts.