RKI releases new map of TBE risk areas 2017

The Robert Koch Institute has not added any other circles to the existing 146 in its Epidemiological Bulletin this year, even though TBE case numbers in 2016 were 59 percent up on the previous year. Thus, the TBE risk areas continue to be largely in Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, southern Hesse and in southeastern Thuringia. There are also risk areas in Central Hesse (LK Marburg-Biedenkopf), Rhineland-Palatinate (LK Birkenfeld), Saarland (Saar-Pfalz-Kreis) and Saxony (Vogtlandkreis). Researchers have also shown for the first time in March that not only the common wood buck, but also the forest eel ticks can transmit the TBE virus during stinging.

The early summer meningoencephalitis, abbreviated to FSME1, is notifiable. If TBE is recognized by a doctor, he must report it to the health authority, which in turn forwards it to the state authority. The Robert Koch Institute collects this reporting data, evaluates them and defines TBE risk areas.

In early summer temperatures ticks are particularly attacking. Therefore, it now depends on the right protection. (Image: stockWERK / fotolia.com)

The Epidemiological Bulletin states: "FSME risk areas are defined as endemic areas of the FSME in which persons with tick exposure are at risk of developing a disease that, according to an agreement between experts, justifies preventive measures." Since 2002, the Robert Koch Institute has collected the reporting data. Two things have been shown: On the one hand, the number of cases varies from year to year. In 2016, for example, case numbers were 59 percent higher than in 2015, where "the interaction of environmental and climatic factors was likely to be particularly favorable for the spread of ticks, the virus within its natural foci, and / or human exposure. Increased awareness of the benefits of TBE vaccination should be given, especially in those with a particularly high TBE burden, [...] in order to achieve higher vaccination rates. This could prevent a large proportion of the diseases in Germany. "2 Secondly, the risk also depends on how people behave in their free time and how well they take care of them.

What good precaution looks like?
Against tick bites, there are a few simple precautions. Long clothing offers less attack surface. Who pulls the socks over the trouser hem also prevents the small parasites from crawling along the inside of the trousers. Antiseptic sprays reduce the risk of stinging for a few hours, but must be applied regularly. And thorough tick-ticketing should be part of every outdoor stay. There is also a vaccine against TBE that can help reduce the risk of TBE virus infection after a tick bite.

According to the Epidemiological Bulletin, too low a vaccination coverage, even in the existing TBE risk areas, is one of the reasons for the high number of cases in 2016: "A high proportion of TBE illnesses could be caused by an increase in vaccination rates, especially in risk areas with particularly high TBE levels. Incidence. "The Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) recommends vaccination to individuals exposed to ticks in TBE risk areas. Either because they live there or are on short notice, for example on vacation.

The Auwaldzecke as a new TBE transmitter
This spring, tick researchers made public that another type of tick can transmit the TBE virus: the ragwort. So far, it was only proven that the common wood buck is carrier and transmitter of the TBE virus. "The name of the grouse is very misleading. Actually, the tick is not found in alluvial forests, "explains Dr. med Gerhard Dobler. Similar to the common woodbuck, it occurs in forest and meadow areas as well as in the vicinity of waters.

The Auwaldzecke has migrated from south-eastern European countries in the past 20 years and is common in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Unlike the woodbuck, the ragweed is barely active during the summer months, from February to May and from September to November. "This will extend the period of transmission of the FSME into late autumn and late winter." According to Dr. Watson, the role played by the forest eucalyptus as the transmitter of TBE viruses is human. Dobler so far unclear and still needs to be clarified.

1 Tick-borne tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus can be transmitted to animals and humans by ticks and trigger inflammation of the meninges and the central nervous system.
2 Robert Koch Institute: Epidemiological Bulletin No. 17, April 27, 2017.