The accident insurance institution suva informs: Ticks can now be found up to altitudes of 2000 meters above sea level. And in known areas, especially at altitudes of 500 and 1000 meters above sea level, their numbers have increased sharply.

Since 2003, tick bites in Switzerland have been on the rise. Between 2015 and 2019, the number of annual cases was around 13 000, rising to around 15 000 between 2020 and 2024 - an increase of 15 percent.

The fact that the tick population has grown so much in recent years is partly due to changing climatic conditions. Due to mild winters and longer periods of warmth, ticks remain active for longer and can spread to new areas.

Ticks can transmit the diseases Lyme disease and TBE. Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that can cause reddening of the skin, nerve damage and, in rare cases, paralysis. Treatment with antibiotics is possible, but there is no vaccination.  TBE is a viral infection that causes inflammation of the brain and meninges. It can lead to permanent damage or even death. TBE (tick-borne encephalitis) cannot be treated with medication, but there are vaccinations for immunization in three steps. 

Here are tips on how to prevent a tick from biting.