Czech tick-borne encephalitis cases rose, Lyme disease cases fell

Last year, 854 people in the Czech Republic contracted early summer tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), 80 more than in 2019 and the highest number since 2012, State Health Office (SZÚ) data published on Thursday show.

Only about 25 percent of Czech residents are vaccinated against TBE, a low percentage compared to other EU countries. Within the bloc, the second-highest number cases was recorded in Germany, which has a population eight times larger.

In 2020, there were 3,710 cases of Lyme disease, which is also spread by ticks, 370 fewer than in the previous year and the lowest value since 2015, according to the SZÚ.

There is no vaccine for Lyme disease currently available, but Czech and American researchers working to develop one say the first clinical tests on mice are promising.