Epidemiological Surveillance of Lyme Borreliosis in Bavaria, Germany, 2013–2020

Microorganisms

Stefanie Böhm¹  Susanne Heinzinger²  Volker Fingerle²  Merle Margarete Böhmer³  Katharina Ens⁴ 

[1] Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, 80636 Munich, Germany;Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany;Department for Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Taskforce Infectiology, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Lazarettstrasse 67, 80636 Munich, Germany;Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry and Epidemiology (IBE), Pettenkofer School of Public Health, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich (LMU), 81377 Munich, Germany;

关键词: Lyme borreliosis;    Lyme disease;    Borrelia burgdorferi;    Bavaria;    Germany;    surveillance;   

DOI  :  10.3390/microorganisms9091872

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Lyme borreliosis (LB) is the most common tick-borne disease in Germany. Mandatory notification of acute LB manifestations (erythema migrans (EM), neuroborreliosis (NB), and Lyme arthritis (LA)) was implemented in Bavaria on 1 March 2013. We aimed to describe the epidemiological situation and to identify LB risk areas and populations. Therefore, we analyzed LB cases notified from March 2013 to December 2020 and calculated incidence (cases/100,000 inhabitants) by time, place, and person. Overall, 35,458 cases were reported during the study period (EM: 96.7%; NB: 1.7%; LA: 1.8%). The average incidence was 34.3/100,000, but annual incidence varied substantially (2015: 23.2; 2020: 47.4). Marked regional differences at the district level were observed (annual average incidence range: 4–154/100,000). The Bavarian Forest and parts of Franconia were identified as high-risk regions. Additionally, high risk for LB was found in 5–9-year-old males and in 60–69-year-old females. The first group also had the highest risk of a severe disease course. We were able to identify areas and populations in Bavaria with an increased LB risk, thereby providing a basis for targeted measures to prevent LB. Since LB vaccination is currently not available, such measures should comprise (i) avoiding tick bites, (ii) removing ticks rapidly after a bite, and (iii) treating LB early/adequately.

【 授权许可】

Unknown