FSME cases rise slightly in Lower Austria

Tick-borne encephalitis (FSME) cases in Lower Austria have seen a slight increase, with 15 reported cases so far this year compared to 13 during the same period last year. The Lower Austria State Sanitary Directorate noted that these figures fall within the range of typical annual fluctuations.

While cases in Lower Austria remain relatively stable, the number of severe FSME cases across Austria has already exceeded the total recorded for the entire previous year. Nationally, the reference center at the Medical University of Vienna has confirmed 155 hospitalized cases.

The reported cases in Lower Austria span various age groups, from an 11-year-old to a 70-year-old. No deaths have been recorded in the region this year or last year. The infection is primarily transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected tick and can cause inflammation of the brain and meninges. While there is no specific cure, a highly effective vaccine is available. The vaccination rate in Lower Austria is 84 percent, which is slightly higher than the national average of 80 percent.