Tick-borne diseases and public health

Tick-borne diseases are an increasing public health concern in Europe. The aim is to evaluate human exposure to ticks and tick-borne pathogens, understand how awareness, attitudes, and outdoor habits influence infection risks, and
use this knowledge to inform local and regional planning to reduce disease impact. Using a socio-eco-epidemiology framework, this project will assess tick-borne disease risk in greenspaces in different socioeconomic areas. Tick density and densities of infected ticks are assessed through systematic sampling and GIS mapping. We will estimate human contact rates with infected ticks using residential census and visitor count data, supplemented by interviews and observations. By analyzing correlations between tick densities, pathogen prevalence, and disease cases, we seek to comprehensively assess the tickborne disease risk. To predict future tick distribution and diseases in Sweden, we will compare with ongoing studies from the Baltic States and Åland Islands. To facilitate the integration of public health risks in spatial planning we will arrange workshops focusing on the trade off between ecosystem services and disservices. We want to advocate a proactive strategy that can create safer outdoor environments by balancing human health benefits with effective tick management.