Poland's Wrocław County launches boreliosis prevention program as experts detail tick transmission

Parasitologist Dr. Katarzyna Bartosik explained that the primary vector of Lyme disease in Europe is the common tick (Ixodes ricinus). The tick acquires the Borrelia bacteria from small mammals such as mice and from birds during its larval and nymph stages; larger mammals like deer serve as amplification hosts but are not reservoirs. The bacterium can persist in the tick’s gut and become active again when the tick feeds on a new host, including humans.

The Wrocław County authorities have opened a tender to select an implementer for a boreliosis prevention program covering 2026‑2028. The initiative aims to raise public awareness, support local health projects, and improve preventive measures against tick‑borne diseases in the region.