Health - Five cases of TBE in Thuringia this year
According to the Berlin Robert Koch Institute (RKI), there have been five reported cases of Tick-Borne Meningoencephalitis (FSME) in Thuringia this year. FSME stands for Early Summer Meningoencephalitis, a disease caused by viruses that is transmitted by infected ticks. Symptoms range from flu-like illness to inflammation of the brain, meninges, and spinal cord. Nationwide, there have been 245 cases reported in the database since the beginning of the year.
The number of designated FSME risk areas in Thuringia has recently increased, with 13 regions now identified by the RKI. Most of these regions are located in the eastern and southern parts of the state. The latest addition is the Altenburger Land district. People living in these areas are recommended by the Standing Vaccination Commission (Stiko) to get preventatively vaccinated against FSME, as the disease can be fatal in extreme cases.
Borrelia is significantly more common than FSME
The most commonly tick-borne infectious disease in Germany is Borreliosis, a disease caused by bacteria. For Thuringia, there have been 97 cases reported to the RKI this year. Experts assume a higher number of undeclared cases. A typical symptom is a red ring around the bite site. Other symptoms include muscle and joint pain, and fever. The infection is treated with antibiotics, but there is no preventative vaccine.
In the previous year, there were ten reported cases of FSME and 275 cases of Borreliosis in Thuringia according to the RKI.
RKI Map of FSME Risk Areas
- Despite the five reported cases of Tick-Borne Meningoencephalitis (FSME) this year in Thuringia, the Altenburger Land district has recently been added as a new designated FSME risk area.
- The Berlin Robert Koch Institute (RKI) advises people living in the FSME risk areas in Thuringia, particularly the eastern and southern parts of the state, to consider getting preventatively vaccinated against Tick-Borne Meningoencephalitis.
- Interestingly, although Tick-Borne Meningoencephalitis (FSME) has only five reported cases in Thuringia this year, Borreliosis, a more common tick-borne infection caused by bacteria, has had 97 reported cases in the same region.
- The RKI's map shows that there are currently 13 designated FSME risk areas in Thuringia, with most of them located in the eastern and southern parts of the state, indicating a potential threat from both FSME and Borreliosis in these regions.
