Disco love and the danger of ticks: an exciting summer mix!

Disco love and the danger of ticks: an exciting summer mix!

In today's society, disco still plays an important role in getting to know each other. This will be discussed on Monday, July 14, 2025, at 9:05 p.m. in the program “Thema” on ORF 2 and on ORF ON by Christoph Feurstein. The documentary highlights various aspects, including nostalgic memories and the current importance of discos. Doris and Manfred Cziszer remember their first kiss 30 years ago in the now closed “Flamingo” in Rechnitz. Daniel Mairoll, operator of “Johnnys Disco” in Oberndorf near Salzburg, comments on the central role that discos play in finding a partner. Gerhard Janser also conducts surveys among old and young to determine the relevance of disco today.

Another part of the program is dedicated to a serious topic: the risk of tick bites and the resulting danger of TBE (tick-borne encephalitis). According to reports from kosmo.at, the disease has already brought 25 people to hospitals in Austria this year. This could be due to the increasing tick population, fueled in part by climate change. In 2023, a total of at least 50 people in Austria had to be treated for TBE, a situation that fortunately remains stable due to the high vaccination rate of around 85%.

Ticks and their consequences

The role of ticks as vectors of dangerous diseases should not be underestimated. In Austria, these are often associated with Lyme disease and TBE. The statistical analysis of health data shows that 158 ​​hospitalizations due to TBE were recorded last year, which is the third highest level in the last decade. The measures taken also include a new monitoring project called SURVector, which will start in 2024. This nationwide program will monitor not only ticks, but also mosquitoes to provide early warning of new pathogens.

The geographical distribution of TBE cases shows that Upper Austria is most affected with nine infections, followed by Styria with five and Lower Austria with four cases. This could also be related to the high number of ticks that were submitted to AGES by June 20, 2023: Over 2,650 teeth were sent in, which is almost twice as many as in the entire previous year. The majority of these ticks belong to the genus Ixodes, also known as the common wood tick.

Prevention and vaccinations

Despite the significant increase in TBE cases, the vaccination rate in Austria remains high. The Ministry of Health recommends vaccination for the entire population, as the whole of Austria is considered a TBE risk area. An effective vaccination exists, which has helped to significantly reduce the number of cases in recent years. Before the introduction of vaccination campaigns, the annual number of TBE cases was between 300 and 700, while in recent years it has decreased to between 41 and 216 cases.

In addition to TBE, other pathogens such as rickettsia and borrelia were also detected in the ticks examined. Targeted information about the risks of tick bites and the importance of vaccination is therefore essential. The upcoming program “Theme” provides a platform to comprehensively shed light on these issues while raising public awareness of the dangers associated with ticks.

Information about disco culture and the health risks posed by ticks are therefore closely linked: while the disco has traditional value as a place to get to know each other, the increasing frequency of tick bites represents a serious challenge.