21 October 20269 min read

Tick-Borne Diseases in Spain: Symptoms and Risks

Medical Review

Medically Reviewed by Dr. Pedro Yelamo Vera, MD

Licensed Physician No. 484814280 · Official Medical College of Bizkaia (Spain)Last reviewed: 21 October 2026

Which diseases ticks carry in Spain: spotted fever, Lyme disease, Crimean-Congo fever. The symptoms to watch for and when to see a doctor or call 112.

A male doctor in a white coat in a modern clinic looks at the camera with a reassuring smile.

Need help now?

You don't have to figure this out alone

Dr. Pedro Yelamo Vera is an independent, bilingual GP licensed in Spain. Book a 15-minute video consultation in English or Spanish for €50, with a private electronic prescription issued under Spanish law when clinically appropriate.

Book a Video Consultation

Ticks in Spain can pass on several diseases. The most common is Mediterranean spotted fever, which causes fever, a dark scab at the bite and a rash. Lyme disease occurs mainly in the humid north. Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever is rare but serious. Most tick bites cause no illness at all.

TL;DR

Most tick bites do not make you ill. Remove the tick soon and watch the skin and your health for 4 weeks.
Mediterranean spotted fever (fiebre botonosa) is the classic tick illness in Spain: fever, a black scab and a rash, mostly in summer.
Lyme disease is found mainly in the north. Its sign is a red rash that spreads out from the bite.
Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever is rare in Spain, with only a small number of cases since 2016, mostly in the west and centre. It is an emergency.
Fever, a rash or a dark scab after a tick bite or a day in the countryside: see a doctor and mention the tick.
Bleeding, confusion or a very high fever with severe illness: call 112.

Which diseases do ticks carry in Spain?

In Spain, ticks can carry Mediterranean spotted fever, Rickettsia slovaca infection, Lyme disease and Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever. Other, less common illnesses are also possible. Each one is linked to a different kind of tick, a different season and a different part of the country.

In March 2026 the Spanish Ministry of Health published a clinical guide to tick-borne diseases. It covers the diseases in this article and a few more. You can read about them one by one below.

What is Mediterranean spotted fever?

Mediterranean spotted fever (fiebre botonosa or fiebre exantemática mediterránea) is the best-known tick illness in Spain. It is caused by a germ called Rickettsia conorii. It is carried mainly by the brown dog tick, which lives on dogs and around homes. Most cases happen in summer.

The typical signs, as the MSD Manual describes them, are:

Fever, often with headache and aching muscles.
A dark scab at the bite, called an eschar or mancha negra.
A rash that spreads over the body. It can include the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet.

A doctor treats it with an antibiotic, usually doxycycline. See a doctor if you have a fever and a dark scab, even before any rash appears. The dose and length of treatment are for the doctor to decide.

What is Rickettsia slovaca infection?

This infection goes by several names (DEBONEL, TIBOLA or SENLAT). It is carried by Dermacentor ticks, mostly in the colder months. The typical picture is a scab on the scalp, after a tick bite on the head. There are also painful, swollen glands in the neck. It is treated by a doctor, so book a visit if you notice this pattern.

Is there Lyme disease in Spain?

Yes. Lyme disease (borreliosis de Lyme) is found in Spain, mainly in the humid north. It is carried by the castor bean tick, Ixodes ricinus. Areas include Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria, the Basque Country, Navarra, La Rioja and the north of Castilla y León.

The main sign is called erythema migrans. It is a red rash that spreads out from the bite and often looks like a ring or a bullseye. It usually appears days to about a month after the bite. The NHS says it can appear up to 3 months later. Some people also feel as if they have the flu, with tiredness, fever, headache and aching joints or muscles.

Lyme disease is treated with antibiotics. NICE, the UK's guidance body, says two things that matter here (NICE NG95):

A typical erythema migrans rash is enough to diagnose and treat Lyme disease. No blood test is needed first.
People who have been bitten but have no symptoms should not be given antibiotics just in case.

What is Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, and is it in Spain?

Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a rare but serious viral illness. It is carried by Hyalomma ticks. Spain has recorded a small number of human cases since 2016.

Most cases have been in the west and centre of the country. The Ministry of Health's map of cases lists provinces such as Ávila, Badajoz, Cáceres, Córdoba, León, Salamanca and Toledo. In August 2026, a case in Salamanca was reported as Spain's fourth of the year. For most people, the risk stays low.

According to the World Health Organization, symptoms usually start 1 to 3 days after a tick bite, and up to 9 days. The illness begins suddenly:

High fever.
Muscle pain and headache.
Vomiting.
Later, bleeding: bruising, nosebleeds or other bleeding.

If you have a sudden high fever in the days after a tick bite in these areas, get medical help straight away. If there is any bleeding, call 112.

What other tick-borne diseases are there in Spain?

The Ministry's 2026 guide also lists some less common illnesses:

Tick-borne relapsing fever.
Anaplasmosis.
Babesiosis.
Tularaemia.
Q fever.
Alpha-gal syndrome, an allergy to red meat that can follow tick bites. It causes delayed allergic reactions, hours after eating red meat.

These are rare. The key point is the same for all of them: tell the doctor about any tick bite or time outdoors in the weeks before you fell ill.

What happens if a tick bites you?

Most of the time, nothing. The bite may be a little red and itchy for a few days. Illness is the exception, not the rule. What matters is to remove the tick soon and watch your health for the next 4 weeks.

To remove it, use fine-tipped tweezers. Grip the tick as close to the skin as you can and pull it out slowly and steadily. Do not twist or crush it. Then wash the area with soap and water. Our page on tick bites explains removal step by step and what to watch for.

How can you prevent tick bites in Spain?

Use a repellent and cover up when you walk in the countryside. Then check your whole body when you get home. These are the steps the AEMPS, Spain's medicines agency, recommends:

Repellent. Choose one with DEET, IR3535, icaridin or citriodiol that is registered with the Spanish authorities. Follow the label, especially for children.
Clothes. Wear long, light-coloured clothes and closed shoes. Tuck your trousers into your socks. Light colours make ticks easier to see.
Paths. Walk in the middle of paths. Avoid brushing against tall grass and bushes.
Body check. Look all over, especially the armpits, groin, hair, navel, behind the ears and around the waist. Check children too.
Clothes after a walk. Wash them in hot water.
Pets. Dogs and cats bring ticks into homes. Ask your vet about tick protection.

When should you see a doctor after a tick bite?

See a doctor if you have a fever, headache, aching muscles, a rash or a dark scab in the 4 weeks after a tick bite. The same goes after a day in the countryside, even if you did not see a tick. Tell the doctor about the tick, where you were and when.

You do not need to see a doctor just because a tick bit you and you feel well. Antibiotics are not given just in case. Watch and wait is the right plan.

When is it an emergency?

Call 112 if you or someone with you has any of these after a tick bite:

Bleeding: unusual bruising, nosebleeds or other bleeding.
Confusion, or being very drowsy.
A very high fever with feeling severely ill.
Trouble breathing.

See our guide to emergency numbers in Spain.

Getting a medical assessment

If you have symptoms after a tick bite, you can book a video visit with Dr. Pedro Yelamo Vera, a GP licensed in Spain (Colegiado No. 484814280). He can look at a rash or scab on camera and decide whether you need treatment, tests or an in-person exam. The Urgent Care video visit costs €50 and lasts 15 minutes. Visits run every day from 07:30 to 20:30 (Spain time). It includes a medical report and an itemised invoice. Children and pregnant patients can be seen. For other bites, see our page on insect bites. A prescription is never guaranteed: it is issued only where clinically appropriate after a genuine evaluation, as a private electronic prescription under Spanish law. This service is for urgent, non-emergency care. In an emergency, call 112.

Frequently asked questions

Are there ticks in Spain?

Yes. Ticks live across Spain, in the countryside, in parks and on dogs. They are most active in the warm months, but some types are active in winter too.

What is the most common tick disease in Spain?

Mediterranean spotted fever (fiebre botonosa) is the classic one. It causes fever, a dark scab at the bite and a rash that can include the palms and soles. It is treated with antibiotics.

Do I need antibiotics after a tick bite?

Not if you feel well. NICE advises against antibiotics for people who have been bitten but have no symptoms. Watch for symptoms for 4 weeks and see a doctor if any appear.

What does a Lyme disease rash look like?

It is a red rash that spreads out from the bite, often like a ring or a bullseye. It usually appears days to about a month after the bite, and sometimes up to 3 months later.

How common is Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever in Spain?

It is rare. Spain has had a small number of cases since 2016, mostly in the west and centre. It is serious, so a sudden high fever after a tick bite needs urgent care.

How long after a tick bite can symptoms start?

It depends on the disease. Crimean-Congo fever usually starts within 1 to 3 days. Lyme disease and spotted fever take longer. Watch your health for 4 weeks after the bite.

Which repellent works against ticks?

The AEMPS lists repellents with DEET, IR3535, icaridin or citriodiol registered by the Spanish authorities. Follow the label, especially for children.

Can a tick bite cause a red meat allergy?

Yes. Alpha-gal syndrome is an allergy to red meat that can follow tick bites. Reactions come on hours after eating red meat. See a doctor if this happens to you.

Sources

This guide is general information. It does not replace the advice of your doctor or pharmacist.

Medical Citations & Sources

This content is written and reviewed by a licensed physician with reference to the following official health authorities.