People enjoying nature in Estonia this summer should take extra care to avoid the increasingly common tick-borne diseases. The number of those infected is higher than in previous years.

Tick-borne diseases are an annual concern in Estonia. According to the Health Board, as of last week, 26 people had been diagnosed with encephalitis and 323 with Lyme disease in 2015.

People who suffer from the former usually develop flu-like symptoms one or two weeks after a tick bite.

The most common sign of Lyme disease is a skin rash at the site of the bite one to four weeks after it has occurred. If untreated, the infection can affect the nervous system, joints and the heart.

It's possible to get vaccinated for the encephalitis but not for Lyme disease.