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[ZD25] Reported cases of lyme borreliosis and tick-borne meningoencephalitis in Slovenia
Impacts

Key message
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Lyme borreliosis (LB) and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) are the most common vector-borne diseases transmitted by ticks. Between 2014 and 2023, Slovenia reported annually slightly less than 3,000 to over 7,000 cases of LB and an average of 105 TBE cases (the highest in 2020 - 187 cases, the lowest in 2015 and 2021 - 62 cases). Due to climate change, which influences the expansion of tick habitats and extends their activity season, the risk of infection may increase in the future. Increased awareness and individual prevention are key factors in reducing the burden of both diseases.

Charts

Figure ZD25-1: Data on reported cases of Lyme borreliosis and tick-borne encephalitis in Slovenia, 2015–2024
Sources:

National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ), 2015–2024 (18.9.2025)

Show data
reported cases of Lyme borreliosis[number ] reported cases of tick-borne encephalitis[number ]
2015 3742 62
2016 4273 83
2017 4534 102
2018 7543 153
2019 3939 111
2020 7496 187
2021 2933 62
2022 4007 124
2023 2514 63
2024 3162 90
Figure ZD25-2: The average incidence rate of reported cases of Lyme borreliosis, by age group and sex, Slovenia, 2015–2024
Sources:

National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ), 2015–2024 (18.9.2025)

Show data
men[Incidence rate/100.000 inh.] women[Incidence rate/100.000 inh.]
0-4 264.02 235.42
5-9 312.42 269.96
10-14 152.66 112.11
15-19 97.44 105.32
20-24 121.10 93.60
25-29 122.34 105.83
30-34 123.09 124.40
35-39 145.15 150.15
40-44 171.87 184.69
45-49 198.59 242.87
50-54 213.98 339.88
55-59 237.30 388.65
60-64 253.37 429.66
65-69 257.12 408.05
70-74 220.10 343.09
75-79 183.84 218.20
80-84 126.45 135.12
85+ 63.20 47.29
Starost - SKUPAJ 189.16 233.66
Figure ZD25-3: The average incidence rate of reported cases of tick-born encephalitis, by age group and sex, Slovenia, 2015–2024
Sources:

National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ), 2015–2024 (18.9.2025)

Show data
men[Incidence rate/100.000 inh.] women[Incidence rate/100.000 inh.]
0-4 1.56 1.67
5-9 5.18 2.26
10-14 4.68 1.70
15-19 4.51 2.78
20-24 4.26 2.24
25-29 6.33 2.58
30-34 5.07 3.92
35-39 3.65 4.13
40-44 3.29 4.17
45-49 4.89 5.51
50-54 5.27 5.95
55-59 8.28 7.76
60-64 8.30 6.86
65-69 9.74 5.98
70-74 7.10 5.50
75-79 6.33 4.66
80-84 8.77 3.23
85+ 5.24 1.58
Starost - SKUPAJ 5.58 4.34
Figure ZD25-4: Number of reported cases of Lyme borreliosis and tick-borne encephalitis, by months, Slovenia, 2024
Sources:

National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ), 2024 (18.9.2025)

Show data
reported cases of Lyme disease [number ] reported cases of tick-borne encephalitis[number ]
January 64 2
February 52 0
March 106 6
April 287 8
May 466 16
June 630 16
July 647 20
August 304 6
September 166 4
October 185 8
November 161 4
December 94 0
Figure ZD25-5: The average incidence rate of reported cases of Lyme borreliosis, by statistical regions, Slovenia, 2020–2024
Sources:

National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ), 2020–2024 (18.9.2025)

Show data
reported cases of Lyme borreliosis[Incidence rate/100.000 inh.]
01-Pomurska 235.90
02-Podravska 119.20
03-Koroška 280.28
04-Savinjska 93.82
05-Zasavska 112.40
06-Posavska 84.60
07-Jugovzhodna Slovenija 171.02
08-Osrednjeslovenska 196.25
09-Gorenjska 309.63
10-Primorsko-notranjska 220.98
11-Goriška 442.24
12-Obalno-kraška 131.13
Figure ZD25-6: The average incidence rate of reported cases of tick-borne encephalitis, by statistical regions, Slovenia, 2020–2024
Sources:

National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ), 2020–2024, 18.9.2025 ()

Show data
reported cases of tick-borne encephalitis[Incidence rate/100.000 inh.]
01-Pomurska 2.98
02-Podravska 2.74
03-Koroška 14.14
04-Savinjska 2.55
05-Zasavska 2.80
06-Posavska 0.53
07-Jugovzhodna Slovenija 4.51
08-Osrednjeslovenska 5.04
09-Gorenjska 11.08
10-Primorsko-notranjska 17.60
11-Goriška 5.24
12-Obalno-kraška 0.51

 

 

 

 

 

Methodology

Other sources and literature

  1. Nacionalni inštitut za javno zdravje - NIJZ (2015–2024). Letna poročila epidemiološkega spremljanja nalezljivih bolezni v Sloveniji 2015–2024. Ljubljana, NIJZ.
  2. Pravilnik o prijavi nalezljivih bolezni in posebnih ukrepih za njihovo preprečevanje in obvladovanje. Uradni list RS št. 16/1999. Dostopno na: http://www.uradni-list.si/1/content?id=18409
  3. Rizzoli A, Hauffe H, Carpi G, Vourc HG, Neteler M, Rosa R (2011). Lyme borreliosis in Europe. Euro Surveillance. 27, vol. 16. Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Italy.
  4. Sočan M (2012). Epidemiološke značilnosti prijavljenih primerov lymske borelioze v Sloveniji. V: Združenje za infektologijo pri Slovenskem zdravniškem društvu. Zbornik simpozija lymska borelioza 2012. Ljubljana: Klinika za infekcijske bolezni in vročinska stanja, UKC Ljubljana.
  5. Statistični urad Republike Slovenije. 2007. Projekt statistike razvoja podeželja. Kakovost življenja in raznolikost gospodarskih dejavnosti na podeželju. Ljubljana, SURS.
  6. Zakon o nalezljivih boleznih – ZNB (uradno prečiščeno besedilo) (ZNB-UPB1), Uradni list RS št. 33/2006. Dostopno na: http://www.uradni-list.si/1/objava.jsp?urlid=200633&
    stevilka=1348
  7. Zavod za gozdove Slovenije (2011). Splošni podatki in dejstva o gozdovih v Sloveniji. Ljubljana, Zavod za gozdove Slovenije.

Last modified
22.10.2025
Author(s)

Maja Praprotnik, dipl. san. inž. in doc. dr. Maja Sočan, dr. med., Nacionalni inštitut za javno zdravje (NIJZ)