"The Caterpillar from Hell" Takes Over Berlin”
Parks and green spaces across Germany have been cordoned off, including in Berlin – and here in Munich.
Parks and green spaces across Germany have been cordoned off, including in Berlin – and here in Munich. Photo: Sachelle Babbar/Zuma Press Wire/Shutterstock
A poisonous caterpillar is invading several parts of Germany, including Berlin.
The public is being urged to stay away from parks and sports fields.
"It's impossible to eradicate the problem," a city official told CNN.
The oak processionary moth, colloquially known as the "caterpillar from hell," can cause serious health problems.
Rashes, fever, and difficulty breathing are some of the things it can do to you – without you even touching it. The tiny insects are covered in hundreds of thousands of poisonous hairs that easily detach and are spread by the wind.
Can come to Sweden
The "Hellworm" has previously plagued France, England and our neighboring country Denmark, among others.
- It is very likely that the species will also establish itself in Sweden, Didrik Vanhoenacker, biologist on duty at the Natural History Museum, previously told Aftonbladet.
Now several of Berlin's most popular green areas and sports fields are empty and cordoned off with warning tape. They have been forced to close again to avoid people being injured, and the public is urged to keep their distance.
In Berlin's second largest park, Jungfernheide, around 2,000 trees are infested by the caterpillar.
And the work of removing them takes time.
– We have spent a whole day clearing a tree with 800 nests, an official tells CNN.
Heatwave in the country
People are also being urged to wash their clothes thoroughly after each park visit, and to keep windows and doors closed.
The latter is a task that is easier said than done, as extreme heat is also spreading in the country. Temperatures are expected to reach 40 degrees in the coming days.
At the same time, the heat is being pointed out as one of the causes of the caterpillar invasion.
The increasing spread of the caterpillar is linked to climate change and the ongoing loss of biodiversity, according to the Natural History Museum in the UK, among others.
Nine children fell ill
This is not the first time the caterpillar has spread fear in Germany.
In the summer of 2019, restaurants, swimming pools and roads were closed in several parts of the country. This was after widespread outbreaks, which in some cases became serious.
In the city of Münster, six people were forced to undergo eye surgery after the caterpillar's poisonous hairs got stuck in their eyes, The Guardian reported. In Mülheim, nine children were taken to hospital after suffering a rash and breathing difficulties during an outdoor sports day.
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