Tick Season Begins in Germany as FSME Risk Expands to 183 Districts

The Elbe-Elster district in Brandenburg is the latest addition to FSME risk areas, with health officials urging vaccination and protective measures to combat rising cases.

• FSME, a serious tick-borne disease, caused 686 cases in Germany in 2024, the second-highest number since 2001.
• The Robert Koch-Institut (RKI) has classified 183 districts as FSME risk areas, including the newly added Elbe-Elster district in Brandenburg.
• Vaccination rates remain critically low, with 99% of FSME cases in Brandenburg in 2024 occurring in unvaccinated individuals.
• Ticks become active at temperatures of six degrees Celsius, making protective clothing, repellents, and body checks essential as the warmer season begins.
• FSME symptoms range from mild flu-like conditions to severe neurological complications, and vaccination remains the most effective preventive measure.

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