Germany Adds Elbe-Elster to FSME Risk Areas as Tick Season Begins

Public health authorities urge vaccination and protective measures as FSME cases rise, with 183 districts now classified as risk areas.

The Elbe-Elster district in Brandenburg has been newly designated as an FSME risk area, reflecting the disease's expanding reach.
FSME cases in Germany reached 686 in 2024, the second-highest annual total since 2001, with Brandenburg seeing a significant rise in infections.
Ticks, active at temperatures above six degrees Celsius, are now a year-round threat due to milder winters linked to climate change.
Despite the availability of an effective three-dose vaccine, only 19% of the population was vaccinated as of 2020, leaving most at risk.
Authorities recommend vaccination, protective clothing, insect repellents, and thorough tick checks after outdoor activities to reduce infection risk.