Overview

• 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.