Lyme Disease in the Czech Republic: Cases Triple

Over 1,300 Cases in Three Months

The Czech Republic recorded a total of 1,326 cases of Lyme disease in the first quarter of 2026, representing a more than threefold increase compared to the same period last year. Figures released by the National Institute of Public Health (SZÚ) confirm a trend that experts have been observing for several years: tick-borne diseases are steadily increasing in the Czech Republic.

2025 already brought a record balance: for the whole year, over 11,000 cases of Lyme disease and more than 700 cases of tick-borne encephalitis were reported. This places the Czech Republic among the most affected countries in Europe, with only the Baltic states faring worse.

Change in Reporting, or a Real Increase?

According to SZÚ spokesperson Štěpánka Čechová, the sharp statistical jump is largely due to a change in the reporting system. Since July 2024, general practitioners have been reporting diagnoses automatically, for example, based on the typical red spot after a tick bite, without having to fill out special forms.

"It's not so much an increase in infection as a correction of the under-reporting system to reflect the real situation," Čechová explained.

The previous system required manual forms from doctors and separate laboratory reports from public health officials, which created significant gaps in the records. The new automated system has removed these barriers.

Climate Change is Changing the Rules of the Game

However, the change in reporting is not the only factor. Experts repeatedly point to the influence of climate change, which is fundamentally changing the ecology of ticks in the Czech Republic. Milder winters and earlier onset of warm weather are extending their period of activity—ticks become active at temperatures above 5 °C, and in recent years have even been caught in February and March.

The altitudinal limit of occurrence has also shifted dramatically. While in the 1970s and 1980s, ticks in the Czech Republic were found at a maximum of 700 meters above sea level, at the turn of the millennium it was around 1,100 meters. In 2025, experts collected ticks at an altitude of approximately 1,300 meters. In addition, new species of ticks, previously typical of southern Europe, Asia, or Africa, are penetrating into Central Europe.

Prevention: Vaccination and Caution

Health authorities especially recommend:

• Vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis (partially covered by insurance for people over 50)
• Protective clothing and repellents when spending time in nature
• Regular body checks after returning from nature
• Removing an attached tick as quickly as possible

Vaccination rates against encephalitis in the Czech population remain significantly lower than in neighboring countries—in the Czech Republic it is 39–46% for adults, while in Austria it reaches 81% and in Germany 67%.

There is also hope for a new vaccine directly against Lyme disease, which has shown 70% efficacy in phase three clinical trials. Its approval is expected in the coming years.

The Season is Just Beginning

This year's April brought record temperatures at a number of meteorological stations, which experts say indicates a particularly intense tick season. Doctors are appealing to the public not to underestimate prevention—early removal of ticks and recognition of the first symptoms, such as an expanding red spot, can prevent serious complications including arthritis, meningitis, or facial nerve palsy.