Ticks are back in season - Thuringia braces for rising Lyme disease cases after mild winter

Warmer spring weather has raised concerns about tick bites in Thuringia. Health officials warn that Lyme disease cases have already appeared this year, following a mild winter that failed to reduce tick numbers.

Lyme disease, caused by Borrelia bacteria, remains the most common tick-borne illness in Germany. Symptoms include a red, ring-shaped rash, muscle and joint pain, and fever. Treatment involves antibiotics, but no vaccine exists.

The castor bean tick (Ixodes ricinus), the region's most widespread species, thrives in wooded areas and grasslands. These ticks survive unless temperatures drop to minus 20 degrees Celsius—a threshold not met this past winter.

Last year, Thuringia recorded 626 Lyme disease infections and 11 cases of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE). The risk of TBE is particularly high in the eastern and southeastern parts of the state. Nationwide, Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria reported the most TBE cases in 2024, but infections also occurred in Thuringia and 12 other federal states.

With ticks already active, residents are advised to take precautions when outdoors. Early detection of Lyme disease improves treatment outcomes, while TBE vaccinations are recommended for those in high-risk areas. Officials continue monitoring infection rates as the season progresses.