Number of Lyme disease cases significantly higher than in the previous year

There have been significantly more cases of Lyme disease in Saxony this summer vacation than in the previous year. This is according to data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), as reported by the health insurance company Barmer Sachsen. According to the data, 663 cases of Lyme disease were reported in the Free State during the last vacation weeks. In the 2024 summer vacations, there were 450 cases.

"In view of a mild winter, it was to be expected that this year would be a tick-rich year," said Monika Welfens, Managing Director of Barmer Sachsen. Carefulness is still required. After spending time outdoors, people should check themselves thoroughly for tick bites and remove the little suckers immediately if necessary.

Half of all cases reported during the summer holidays

In the course of this year as a whole, there have been a total of 1,209 cases of Lyme disease in Saxony up to the end of last week. More than half of these (55 percent) were reported during the summer vacations. In the same period last year, 906 cases of Lyme disease were registered, around half of them (around 50 percent) during the summer vacations.

"Further cases can still be expected after the vacations. Signs of the disease only appear after one to six weeks. The first signs are ring-shaped reddening of the skin at the injection site," explained Welfens. Signs of illness include fatigue, fever, swelling of the lymph nodes, headaches, joint and muscle pain.