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2mo ago

Germany Adds Three New FSME Risk Areas as Cases Surge

The Robert Koch Institute reports a rise in tick-borne virus infections, with nearly 200 regions now classified as risk zones.

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Overview

  • The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) has identified three new FSME (tick-borne encephalitis) risk areas: Augsburg in Bavaria, Elbe-Elster in Brandenburg, and Celle in Lower Saxony.
  • FSME risk zones now cover 183 districts across Germany, with the highest concentrations in Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and parts of Saxony, Brandenburg, and Hesse.
  • In 2024, Germany recorded 686 FSME cases, the second-highest annual total since data collection began in 2001, nearly doubling the median annual figure of 352 cases.
  • Experts attribute the spread of FSME to milder winters, which allow ticks to remain active year-round, and low vaccination rates, particularly among older adults.
  • The Ständige Impfkommission (STIKO) recommends FSME vaccinations for those living in or traveling to risk areas, but vaccination coverage remains insufficient in many regions.