Tick season in Estonia: Lyme disease can go unnoticed with vague symptoms

Estonia's tick season is in full swing, with health experts warning that Lyme disease (borreliosis) can be difficult to detect due to its non-specific symptoms. Vaccination remains the best protection against tick-borne encephalitis, while a Lyme disease vaccine is still in development.

Estonia is in the thick of tick season, and medical experts are urging the public to stay vigilant. Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) and Lyme disease (borreliosis) are the two primary health concerns associated with tick bites in the country, but they behave very differently — and one of them is far harder to catch.

## Vaccination still the top defence

For tick-borne encephalitis, vaccination remains the single most effective preventive measure available. Experts emphasise that after discovering a tick bite, people should focus on monitoring their own symptoms rather than rushing to have the tick itself tested — the latter provides little actionable clinical value.

## Lyme disease harder to detect

Borreliosis presents a more complicated challenge. Unlike TBE, there is currently no approved vaccine against Lyme disease, though research and development work is actively ongoing. The disease is particularly tricky because its symptoms can be vague and non-specific — fatigue, mild fever, joint aches — making it easy to dismiss or misattribute to other causes. In some cases, the condition can go entirely unnoticed in its early stages.

The hallmark sign of Lyme disease is an expanding ring-shaped rash around the bite site known as erythema migrans, but this does not appear in every case. Experts advise that anyone who has been bitten by a tick should watch for unusual symptoms over the following weeks and consult a doctor if anything develops, especially if the rash appears.

## Prevention tips for Estonians

With outdoor activity peaking in spring and summer, Estonians are encouraged to wear light-coloured, covering clothing in forested and grassy areas, use tick repellent, and perform thorough body checks after time outdoors. If a tick is found, it should be removed promptly with tweezers, pulling steadily without twisting, and the bite area should be monitored closely.