Tick Sightings Soar in Tampere Region as TBE Cases Remain Rare

Tick sightings are at record highs across Finland and in the Tampere region this summer, following earlier local reports in June when a resident removed hundreds of ticks from her dogs.

YLE reports that the citizen-science site Punkkilive is breaking records this year. Developed by the University of Turku together with Pfizer, Punkkilive is on track to pass 200,000 reported observations by July. Ilari Sääksjärvi, a biodiversity professor at the University of Turku, says tick populations are strengthening broadly up to around Rovaniemi and that climate change is improving their living conditions.

Despite the surge in sightings, severe tick-borne encephalitis in Pirkanmaa has remained rare, with recent incidence around zero to two cases per 100,000 people, says Janne Laine, deputy chief physician for infectious diseases at Tampere University Hospital. Most infections cause no or only mild symptoms. Fewer than 10 percent develop noticeable illness, and only patients with neurologic signs typically reach TAYS for care. The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) currently does not recommend TBE vaccination for areas in Pirkanmaa. THL defines risk areas based on laboratory reports and patient interviews. Only regions exceeding about 15 cases per 100,000 are added to the free vaccination program; otherwise a three-dose vaccine series costs about €150–200.

Pirkanmaa hosts both the common tick and the taiga tick. The taiga tick's active season ended in early July. The common tick remains active into late autumn. Both species can carry Lyme disease or the TBE virus, and ticks spread mainly via small mammals, larger mammals and migrating birds rather than by flying on their own.