Lyme-Borreliose: Ein Situationsbericht aus den sechs östlichen Bundesländern 2007–2009

Abstract

Lyme Borreliosis is a notifiable disease in the Federal States of Berlin, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-West-Pomerania, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt und Thuringia. With 16.461 reported cases between 2007 and 2009 (until 1.12.2009) Lyme borreliosis belongs to the most common vector-borne diseases. In the years 2007 to 2009 the highest number of cases was registered within the months of June to September, with the onset of disease between June and August. The incidence rates were heterogeneously distributed within the Federal States with the highest rates in regions close to the river Oder and to the border to Poland in Brandenburg and Saxony. A bimodal distribution was seen with highest incidence rates in the age groups between 5 to 9 and 60 to 64 years. More women were affected than men. The most frequent notifiable clinical manifestation of Lyme borreliosis was erythema migrans. Only a few cases of early neuroborreliosis and lyme arthritis were reported. Hospitalisation was necessary for 280 patients in the years 2007–2009, mostly with neuroborreliosis. Although no epidemiological data throughout Germany are available it can be assumed that a nationwide but locally different risk of transmission via infected ticks exists.