Tick alert in Austria – new vaccine in sight

Lyme disease shock: One in three ticks is infected – how to protect yourself now ©CANVA
Record year for tick bites: In Upper Austria, children are already ending up in hospital with encephalitis – a nearly finished Lyme disease vaccine is now offering hope
This year, the tick season in Austria is raging more severely than in a long time. Especially in Lower Austria, Styria, and Upper Austria, doctors and hospitals are reporting a strikingly high number of cases – some of them severe. In Linz, four children are currently receiving inpatient treatment after tick bites. Two of them have even been diagnosed with brain inflammation. Therefore, doctor Ariane Biebl urgently calls for monitoring TBE vaccinations – especially in children.
Open preferences.
While successful vaccinations against TBE have been available for years, there is still no vaccine available for tick-borne Lyme disease. And the risk is particularly high in Upper Austria: In the Linz-Wels area, an AGES study found that 18 of 59 ticks were infected with Borrelia. Particularly insidious: Some forms of Lyme disease can affect the nervous system and cause severe neurological consequences.
Open preferences.
Now, a medical development offers hope: According to the Association of Vaccine Manufacturers, a Lyme disease vaccine is in the final stages of clinical trials. Infectious disease specialist Rainer Gattringer from the Wels Hospital explains that children, in particular, could benefit from a future vaccination—because the disease can be particularly severe in them.
Conditions of participation and general terms and conditions of Russmedia Digital GmbH." }]> Do you have a tip for us? Or an insider tip about what's happening in your area? Then get in touch so we can report on it. We follow up on all tips we receive. And to give us a taste and a good overview, we welcome photos, videos, or text. Simply fill out the form below, and your tip will be sent to our editorial team. Alternatively, you can contact us directly via WhatsApp: Go to WhatsApp Chat Thank you very much for your submission.
vol.at