Overview
- Germany has 693 confirmed FSME cases in 2025 with about 100 additional suspected cases under review, according to the national reference laboratory.
- The Robert Koch Institute updated its risk map last week to include much of central Germany, with Halle newly designated after FSME-positive ticks were detected.
- Experts say the map’s binary district labeling can mislead the public, as whole areas turn blue after low thresholds and neighboring white districts may still face exposure.
- Researchers link the rising incidence and wider spread to milder winters and fewer frost days that let ticks survive and stay active through the year, including in cooler regions.
- Vaccination remains the key protection, with the RKI reporting that roughly 99 percent of FSME patients lacked immunization.