Danger of infection by ticks Is the FSME vaccination for children advisable?

TBE and Lyme Disease: Minister of Health warns of danger of infection by ticks

In Bavaria, only about one in three school-age students is vaccinated against FSME. And that, although large parts of the state belong to the risk areas. The Minister of Health of the Free State recommends parents to have the vaccination of their offspring checked by a pediatrician. For Lyme disease, which is also transmitted by ticks, there is no vaccine.

Carriers of dangerous diseases

Health experts repeatedly point out the importance of protecting yourself from ticks. The little bloodsuckers can eventually transmit dangerous infectious diseases such as Lyme disease or tick-borne encephalitis (TBE). While the former is widespread nationwide, the latter is restricted to certain regions of the republic. However, the TBE risk areas in Germany are increasing rapidly, as the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) recently reported. Ten people have contracted FSME in Bavaria so far this year. This was pointed out by Bavaria's Health Minister Melanie Huml.

Ten people have contracted FSME in Bavaria so far this year. Only about one in three school-freshmen in the Free State is vaccinated against the disease. Parents should have the vaccine protection of their offspring checked. (Image: Marco2811 / fotolia.com)

Only one third of new school students are vaccinated

"Especially those who are often in nature - such as when hiking or in their own garden - should be vaccinated," says Huml.

The Minister stated: "At present, only about one third of school-age students in Bavaria are vaccinated against FSME. Especially children between the ages of five and nine are particularly affected. Therefore, I recommend that parents have their children's vaccination checked by a pediatrician. "

The politician pointed out that since the mandatory reporting of TBE disorders in 2001, more and more regions in Bavaria have been declared a TBE risk area. In Bavaria, 88 out of 96 districts and cities now belong to the TBE risk areas.

Throughout 2017, the number of FSME cases in Bavaria increased to 234 cases according to the State Office of Public Health and Food Safety (LGL).

Infection can be fatal in extreme cases

TBE can be difficult especially for older people. About one third of the infected people have symptoms of illness.

First, there are flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, vomiting and dizziness.

According to doctors, some patients also develop meningitis and encephalitis with the risk of damage to the spinal cord. In extreme cases, the disease is fatal.

There are no drugs available against TBE itself, only the symptoms can be treated.

Ticks can also transmit Lyme disease

Ticks can also transmit the infectious disease Lyme disease. This is the case in Bavaria so far this year, 473 people have fallen ill.

Although not every tick bite causes Lyme disease, but who noticed after a stay in the countryside, a Wanderröte (an annular redness to the tick bite site), should definitely consult a doctor - even if he has not noticed any of the crawlies.

"The incidence of Borrelia in ticks varies greatly both regionally and on a small scale and can be up to 30%," writes the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) on its website.

According to the experts, scientific research has shown that about five percent of people bitten by a tick get infected with borrelia.

"Only a very small proportion of those infected, around one percent, develop disease symptoms," says the RKI.

No protection by vaccination possible

The signs of Lyme disease include general symptoms such as fatigue, night sweats, fever and nonspecific joint and muscle pain.

If the disease remains unrecognized and untreated, it can lead to chronic damage to, among other things, the heart, nerves and joints and in the worst case to death.

You can not protect yourself against Lyme disease by vaccination. However, the disease can be treated well with antibiotics.

"The sooner this happens, the better. In addition, it is important to remove ticks as quickly as possible and with a suitable tool, "says Huml.

In 2017, a total of 3,535 borreliosis infections were reported to the LGL in Bavaria. (Ad)