Tick season begins in Croatia as health experts warn of risks and how to protect yourself

As spring and summer bring more people outdoors across Croatia, health experts are warning of the dangers posed by ticks and the diseases they can carry.

Forestry workers, hikers and hunters are among those most exposed, with many choosing vaccination as protection against tick-borne illnesses.

Employees of Hrvatske šume, Croatia’s state forestry company, spend much of their time in forests and natural areas, placing them at increased risk of exposure to ticks.

“Colleagues have told me recovery can be difficult. Some people suffer long-term consequences from meningitis. Such a small creature, yet so dangerous,” forestry ranger Stjepan Kuzmić from the Repaš forestry office told HRT.

Experts note that ticks are not limited to forests and can also be found in gardens, parks and residential yards.

Dr Draženka Vadla, an epidemiology specialist from the Koprivnica-Križevci County Public Health Institute, said that while not all ticks carry disease, two illnesses remain a particular concern.

“One is tick-borne meningoencephalitis, against which vaccination is available. We recommend vaccination for people who frequently spend time in nature,” she explained.

“The other is Lyme disease, for which there is no vaccine. However, if recognised early, it can be treated with antibiotics.”

According to the Koprivnica-Križevci County Public Health Institute, eight cases of Lyme disease have been recorded in the county this year, including a three-year-old child.

Health officials warn that around 10 per cent of patients can develop more severe symptoms and permanent neurological complications.

Valentina Majcen, occupational safety associate at the Koprivnica Forestry Administration, said vaccination rates among forestry workers remain extremely high.

“About 99 per cent of workers are vaccinated because they understand it is beneficial for them, given their daily exposure in forests,” she said.

In addition to organised workplace vaccinations, members of the public can also receive vaccinations through county public health institutes. Around 800 people have been vaccinated in the county over the past decade.

Health experts continue to stress that prevention is the most effective protection against tick bites.

Recommended measures include wearing long, light-coloured clothing, using insect repellents and checking the body carefully after spending time outdoors.