As warm weather sets in across Germany, many residents are heading into forests for walks, but experts are urging caution due to the increased activity of ticks during this time.
According to data from the Federal Statistical Office, tick bites during the warm season of 2023 led to 19 fatalities and 5,974 hospitalizations.
The primary diseases transmitted by ticks in Germany are tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) and Lyme disease. While there is a vaccine for TBE, which health experts strongly recommend receiving (and updating every five years), no vaccine exists for Lyme disease (borreliosis).
Tick-borne encephalitis cases have been on the rise over the last two decades, though the number fluctuates significantly from year to year. In contrast, confirmed cases of Lyme disease have seen a downward trend in the same period.
Germany is home to 15 tick species, although globally, there are over 900. To put minds at ease, only a small number of tick species are harmful to humans, either as parasites or as carriers of diseases.
