The number of cases of TBE is increasing in Blekinge, as well as in the whole of Sweden.

The largest risk areas in the county are marked on Aspö and Utlängan, Stenshamn in the Karlskrona archipelago and Ryssberget in Sölvesborg.

In Sweden in general, the risk is greatest in Stockholm's archipelago, Mälardalen, around Lake Vänern and coastal areas north of Gothenburg.

According to infection control doctor Bengt Wittesjö, all the reported cases of TBE in Blekinge have been people who have not been vaccinated against the disease.

- So if you spend a lot of time out in nature and live in risk areas, it is important that you get vaccinated, he says.

In good time before the tick season

The region's call is to take the vaccine in the coming months in order to have time to get protection before the tick season.

It is mainly those who live or spend a lot of time in the risk areas who are recommended to take the vaccine.

The call also goes out to people who are often bitten by ticks.

- Vaccination should preferably take place well in advance of the tick season in order for you to receive adequate protection.

But if the tick season has already started, it is still not too late, as ticks can be infected well into the autumn, Bengt Wittesjö explains.

Contact a health center or a vaccination clinic for vaccination.