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Are there ticks in Norway, and how do you protect yourself?

Tick areas, TBE vaccine at the pharmacy and what to do after a bite.

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Short answer

Ticks are common along the Norwegian coast from the Swedish border north to Brønnøysund in Nordland, and they are active once the snow has melted. They can spread Lyme disease and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE). Wear long trousers, put DEET or icaridin repellent on your clothes, check your body after walks and remove any tick within 24 hours.

Vaccinations before travelling to Norway a shield icon with a check mark next to a tent and a small no-campfire sign on a green hillside

Why

  1. According to FHI (the Norwegian Institute of Public Health), tick numbers fall quickly the further inland and the higher up you go, and the northernmost viable population is on Dønna, about 80 km north of Brønnøysund.
  2. FHI recommends the TBE vaccine for children and adults who often get tick bites where TBE occurs, mainly on the south coast from Flekkefjord and around the Oslofjord to the Swedish border.
  3. Adults can get the TBE vaccine at a GP office, a vaccination clinic or a pharmacy, but it is not part of a public programme, so you pay for it yourself.

Details

Ticks are most numerous in spring, and activity can drop in midsummer if it is very hot and dry. Remove a tick with tweezers or a tick remover: grip it close to the skin and pull it straight out. Watch the bite for a reddish rash that grows to more than 5 cm across, and contact a doctor if it appears or if you get a fever or headache after a bite.

Tip

If you plan a long summer stay in the forest on the southern coast, FHI advises taking the TBE vaccine in late winter, well before the tick season peaks.

What may differ

The risk is much lower inland, in the mountains and in Northern Norway, but ticks are occasionally found north of the Arctic Circle. The TBE vaccine is aimed at people who often get tick bites in TBE areas, not at every visitor.

People also ask

  • Do I need a TBE vaccine before visiting Norway?
  • Where in Norway is the tick risk highest?
  • Can you get a tick vaccine at a pharmacy in Norway?

Sources

This answer is for reference only. Advice can change, so check FHI before you travel.

Vaccinations before travelling to Norway

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