Particularly alarming is the situation in Munich, where the risk of infection is estimated to be around 100 times higher than in other parts of Bavaria.
Parasite on the Rise – Munich Especially Affected
The fox tapeworm (Echinococcus multilocularis) is a parasite commonly found in foxes, but it can be dangerous to humans. According to the Bavarian State Office for Health and Food Safety (LGL), the pathogen is especially widespread in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. “In Bavaria, the fox tapeworm can be detected in roughly one out of every three to four foxes,” the LGL reported. While infections in humans are rare, they can be potentially life-threatening.
In 2024, Bavaria recorded 20 cases of echinococcosis – the highest number since 2010. By contrast, only six cases were reported in the previous year. Researchers at the Medical University of Vienna suspect that the actual number of infections may be significantly higher than official figures indicate. Despite being a notifiable disease in Europe, echinococcosis often goes undetected or is misdiagnosed.
Munich: Ten to Fifteen Times More Foxes Than in Rural Areas
Scientists from the Weihenstephan Science Center for Nutrition, Land Use, and Environment have found that the infection risk in Munich is about 100 times greater than in the rest of Bavaria. This is mainly due to the particularly high fox population within the city. It is estimated that around 200 foxes live in Munich – which is ten to fifteen times more than in comparable rural areas.
Protective Measures: How to Reduce the Risk of Infection
The exact way in which the parasite’s eggs enter the human body is still not fully understood, according to the LGL. However, ingestion through the mouth is considered the most likely route – for example, by eating wild fruits such as berries, herbs, or mushrooms that have been contaminated with fox feces. To minimize the risk, the LGL recommends the following safety measures:
Always wash wild fruits, vegetables, outdoor-grown lettuce, and windfall fruit thoroughly.
Heat foods to at least 60 degrees Celsius – by boiling, roasting, or baking – as an added safety precaution.
Never touch dead (or live) foxes.
Wash hands thoroughly after gardening, walking in nature, or working in forests and fields.
Do not feed foxes or attract them to gardens.
To date, there have been no confirmed cases of fox tapeworm transmission through domestic animals such as dogs or cats anywhere in the world.
Silent Infection With Serious Consequences
In humans, the fox tapeworm can cause alveolar echinococcosis, a disease that often progresses unnoticed at first. Symptoms usually do not appear for several years. By that time, the larva has often established itself in an organ – most commonly the liver – and begins to spread there in a tumor-like manner. If left untreated, the disease is ultimately fatal.
Today, the condition can be managed with medications known as benzimidazoles, which slow the progression of the parasite. However, the disease is not curable, and most patients must take medication for life.
What Is the Fox Tapeworm?
The fox tapeworm (Echinococcus multilocularis) is a tiny parasite, measuring just 2.5 to 6 millimeters in length. It anchors itself to the intestinal wall of its definitive host – usually a fox – using suckers and a ring of hooks, feeding on digested food. Humans are accidental hosts who become infected by ingesting tapeworm eggs, for instance via contaminated food or dirty hands.
Source: Bavarian State Office for Health and Food Safety (LGL)
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