With the start of the summer holidays and the associated increase in outdoor activities, medical professionals are pointing to the seasonal risk of infections from tick bites.
According to current data from the Center for Virology at the Medical University of Vienna, 54 cases of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) have already been clinically confirmed this year, with Upper Austria currently having the highest number of cases. In the entire previous year, 2025, Austrian health authorities registered 132 hospitalizations and 26 outpatient cases. Since the responsible ticks are widespread at low and medium altitudes, experts are increasingly classifying urban parks and recreational areas, including the city of Vienna, as potential risk zones, in addition to traditional rural regions.
The relevance of preventive measures extends beyond domestic tourism and is gaining importance in European travel as well. Epidemiological reports from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) confirm that large parts of Central Europe, including southern Germany, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, and Slovenia, are considered endemic areas. The Baltic states are experiencing particularly high incidence rates; for example, in Lithuania, 642 infections were documented in 2025, relative to its small population. Even in Scandinavian countries and parts of northern Italy, the virus continues to spread. Against this backdrop, travel medicine specialists recommend routinely checking vaccination status before traveling to other European countries.
The medical guidelines of the current Austrian vaccination schedule stipulate a regular booster interval of five years for adults under 60, while a booster every three years is recommended for individuals aged 60 and over. For those without existing basic immunity, rapid immunization is available if needed. This accelerated regimen provides temporary protection for the current season within a few weeks. While the tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus is transmitted directly through the tick's saliva during a bite and can only be blocked by vaccination, the situation is different for Lyme disease, which is also transmitted by ticks. There is no approved vaccine against this bacterial infection, making prompt mechanical removal of the tick essential for minimizing the risk.
Health economists and physicians emphasize the need for continuous public education, as vaccination rates in parts of the population have stagnated despite the known long-term neurological consequences of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE). Critics point out that climate-related shifts in the activity phases of parasites necessitate year-round vigilance, and that the traditional focus on spring-based vaccination campaigns is insufficient. Since treatment for TBE is purely symptomatic and no causal antiviral therapy exists, prophylaxis remains the central pillar for preventing severe cases involving the central nervous system.