Number of TBE cases has risen to new highs Vaccination offers protection

Increased number of TBE cases: Already arming for the next tick season

In Bavaria, a new high in tick-borne tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) was achieved. The Minister of Health of the Free State is therefore now promoting timely vaccinations.

Ticks transmit dangerous diseases

A few months ago, health experts reported that TBE infections by ticks in Germany have increased significantly. This also applies to Bavaria: "So far this year, 189 FSME cases have been reported in Bavaria. That's seven more cases than in the same period in 2017 - and more cases than ever since the introduction of mandatory reporting in 2001, "said Bavarian Health Minister Melanie Huml in a statement. The politician promotes the new record for timely vaccinations.

In Bavaria, so many FSME cases were reported this year as never before. There is a vaccine against the tick-borne illness. (Image: stockWERK / fotolia.com)

Too few freshmen are vaccinated

"Anyone who gets vaccinated against FSME can prevent dangerous meningitis," said the minister, who is a trained doctor.

"Currently, however, only about a third of school-freshmen in Germany is vaccinated against FSME. Full vaccination requires three vaccinations within one year, "said Huml.

"Those who start now are prepared for the next tick season in the spring. Every three to five years, another vaccination is needed to maintain protection. "

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.

More Lyme disease cases reported

According to the ministry's announcement, the State Department of Health and Food Safety (LGL) has reported significantly more Lyme disease in people living in the Free State in 2018 than in previous years.

Specifically, 4,469 cases were known - in the same period last year, there were only 2,989 cases (reporting weeks 1 to 41).

"Lyme disease is an infectious disease that can cause even weeks after the tick bite to painful inflammation, for example, from nerves or joints," said Huml.

"It is important to have an early diagnosis, then the disease is easily treatable. Therefore, a doctor should be consulted quickly if there are any indications, "said the Minister of Health.

Wandering red indicates illness

Although not every tick bite causes Lyme disease, but who noticed after a stay in the countryside, a Wanderröte (an annular redness around the tick point), 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.

Nevertheless, it is important to remove ticks as quickly as possible and with a suitable tool.

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. (Ad)