Tick-borne diseases

Ticks are abundant in woodlands all across Europe from early spring to late autumn. They live by sucking blood from animals and occasionally bite humans.

Ticks themselves do not cause disease but if a tick is infected with a virus or bacterium, then that pathogen can be transmitted through the tick’s bite and cause disease in humans.

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a common tick-borne disease in Europe (along with Lyme borreliosis).

Tick-borne diseases

Borreliosis (Lyme disease)

Borreliosis, also known as Lyme disease, is transmitted by the bite of infected ticks. Most cases can be treated with antibiotics. No vaccine is available.

Rickettsiosis

Rickettsiosis/rickettsioses are a group of diseases generally caused by species of Rickettsia. Most of the Rickettsioses are transmitted by ticks.

Tick-borne encephalitis

Tickborne encephalitis (TBE) is a viral infectious disease that attacks the central nervous system and can result in long-term neurological symptoms, and even death.

Tick-borne relapsing fever

Tick-borne relapsing fever is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected soft ticks. The disease is characterised by relapsing or recurring episodes of fever, often accompanied by headache, muscle and joint aches and nausea.