Lithuania warns of rising tick‑borne encephalitis risk as season peaks

The National Public Health Centre (NVSC) in Lithuania alerts that the peak tick season in summer and early autumn brings heightened risk of tick‑borne encephalitis (TBE) and Lyme disease. Ticks are now active not only in forests but also in city parks, gardens and other green areas, and climate change is extending their activity period.

Lithuania remains one of the European countries with the highest TBE incidence. The NVSC stresses that vaccination is the only reliable protection; three doses provide immunity, with booster shots every 3–5 years. People aged 50‑60 can receive the vaccine free of charge. Preventive measures include using repellents, wearing body‑covering clothing, checking the skin after time outdoors, and removing attached ticks promptly with tweezers without squeezing. Early symptoms of TBE may resemble flu – fever, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, headache – and there is no specific antiviral treatment, only supportive care.

The centre also outlines how the virus spreads to the central nervous system and notes that unlike bacterial Lyme disease, TBE cannot be cured with antibiotics. Public awareness of these risks and proper tick‑removal practices are therefore essential to reduce severe complications.