Summer is almost here and I can tell from everyone around me! Many people are really looking forward to a holiday. And to be honest, I am too. Strolling through an unknown city and visiting local markets. Baking on the beach, while all kinds of vendors try to sell me fake Louis Vuitton stuff. Or how about exploring the beautiful nature with hiking and cycling tours through Eastern Europe? I am really looking forward to that.
Or back to basics in a tent on a campsite in the middle of nature in the Czech Republic or Hungary to relax for a while.
You don’t have to travel far to immerse yourself in a beautiful new environment. There is more than enough to do and see in Europe. An added advantage? You can easily visit many European destinations with your own car. Ideal if you don’t feel like waiting in long queues at the airports, you want to take your own bike or you don’t want to worry about whether your luggage stays within the weight limits.
This blog was published on May 3, 2021, written by one of our travel nurses and updated on June 19, 2025.
Health risks in Europe
But what about the health risks when you go on holiday in Europe? You would think that a holiday in Europe would not be much different from our own little country. But that is not true. It is precisely the holidaymakers who want to explore European nature this summer who have some risks.
There is that one annoying creature that can carry a number of viruses: the tick. Ticks can transmit these viruses to people. The most well-known disease that you can get from ticks is Lyme disease. But there are also other diseases that can develop after a tick bite. One that not many people are familiar with is the FSME/TBE virus. If you contract this virus, it can have serious consequences. It can cause brain (meningeal) inflammation. And then you are figuratively, but perhaps also literally, far from home. Fortunately, this virus is almost non-existent in the Netherlands, but there are many countries in Europe where this risk is greater.
When are you at risk of FSME/TBE?
There is a good chance that you will go out during your holiday to explore your travel destination. When walking through nature reserves, but also during bike rides or other activities, there is a very high chance of being bitten by a tick. Especially when you are wearing short clothing. You do not realize when it happens and when you find out that there is a tick, it has already bitten itself.
In addition to lovers of activities in nature, there are other people who are at increased risk of a tick bite, for example bird watchers and campers. They spend a lot of time in nature and therefore have an increased risk of being bitten by a tick.
In addition, ticks can also be found in gardens and parks. So having a nice picnic in the city is not without risk. If you are going to undertake these types of activities in the risk area of FSME/TBE, there is a chance that you will become infected with the virus.
How to prevent infection with the FSME/TBE virus
Fortunately, there are preventive measures against the FSME/TBE virus. There is a vaccine against it. For more information about this vaccine and the virus, take a look at our information page about FSME/TBE. With a series of three vaccinations, you are protected for three years.
If you then take a booster vaccination that ensures that your immune system starts producing antibodies again, you are protected for five years.
This vaccination does not protect against other viruses that ticks can transmit. You must therefore still take extra measures to prevent a tick bite. It is wise to wear covering clothing when you are in nature to ensure that ticks cannot bite. Applying DEET, an insect repellent, also helps to prevent tick bites.
These measures do not provide 100% protection against tick bites. It is therefore important to check yourself for tick bites every day if you have been at risk of a tick bite.
More information about health risks during your summer holiday in Europe?
Do you want to know whether your holiday destination entails risks? Then it is wise to check the sites www.lcr.nl and https://www.nederlandwereldwijd.nl/reizen/reisadviezen. There, advice is given per country about which vaccinations you need and what risks there are.
If you have any more questions about vaccinations or health risks while travelling, please feel free to contact us. We are happy to help you! Because being well prepared for your trip is half the battle!