Germany Adds Three New FSME Risk Areas as Cases Surge

The Robert Koch Institute identifies 183 FSME risk zones nationwide, with vaccination rates remaining low despite rising infections.

The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) has designated three new FSME (tick-borne encephalitis) risk areas: Augsburg in Bavaria, Celle in Lower Saxony, and Elbe-Elster in Brandenburg.
FSME risk zones now cover 183 districts across Germany, with the highest concentrations in Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and parts of Hesse, Saxony, and Brandenburg.
Infections from FSME reached 686 cases in 2024, nearly double the median annual figure and the second-highest count since 2001.
Experts warn that FSME-carrying ticks are spreading northward due to mild winters, with no region in Germany entirely free of risk.
Vaccination rates remain low, especially among older adults, even in high-risk areas, with 98% of 2024 cases occurring in unvaccinated individuals.