Are you having an outdoor experience in the Northern Hemisphere this summer?

North America (USA and Canada) and Europe are low risk for exotic disease. Travellers mostly see the health risks as very similar to those in Australia and New Zealand. This is true but as we move into the summer months when hiking and camping and other outdoor activities become more popular, it is important to consider diseases transmitted by ticks.

TBE (tick-borne encephalitis) has been discussed before during the European Spring. It is vaccine preventable and better known for this reason. It also has serious neurological consequences. Other less serious tick-borne diseases are also a concern during the summer months and just recently, Switzerland has added Lyme disease to it’s Infectious Diseases Dashboard.

Lyme disease is also transmitted by ticks. Over 2000 cases were reported in Switzerland in June last year (2023). Peak months were June, July, and August. Almost 4,000 cases were reported in July 2020.

The numbers are slightly up for this year as compared to 2023.

Over 60,000 cases of Lyme disease are reported in the USA annually, but the actual estimates exceed 300,000.

Tularaemia is also transmitted by ticks as well as mosquitoes. It is worth noting but rare in travellers.

A few simple measures can reduce your risk of tick-borne disease.