Tick order: is it possible to sue a park after contracting encephalitis
The Verkhnepyshminsky Court in the Sverdlovsk Region recovered 2 million rubles from the Deer Streams Nature Park due to the death of a child who was walking there with his parents in 2024. The boy died from a tick bite, presumably encephalitic. The court's decision may set a precedent for specially protected natural areas: the fact is that tick treatment cannot be carried out in such places. Izvestia investigated how the case will affect the practice of such incidents and whether it is possible to sue for an encephalitic tick bite.
What was the nature park condemned for?
The tragedy in the Sverdlovsk region occurred back in May 2024. A family from Sredneuralsk and friends were relaxing in the park when a child was bitten by a tick. On the same day, the parents went to the hospital, where the tick was removed and the vaccine was administered, but it did not help. Two weeks later, the child's fever rose, and the boy was hospitalized. He passed away in June.
A year later, the family appealed to the Verkhnepyshminsky city Court with a lawsuit against the GBU Nature Park "Olenye Ruchy", demanding compensation for moral damage in connection with the death of the child.
The court took into account the findings of the appointed forensic medical examination and partially satisfied the claim. 2 million rubles were recovered from the Deer Streams Park in favor of the parents: 1 million rubles each.
The verdict had not entered into force at the time of publication. The reasoned court decision has not yet been published — according to the case file, it was issued only on September 7. The Verkhnepyshminsky City Court, when asked on the basis of which the applicants' claims were satisfied, limited itself to answering that "the court was guided by the circumstances established at the court session and the requirements of reasonableness and fairness."
Why does the park disagree with the decision
Meanwhile, the park administration does not agree with the court's decision and will appeal it. Elena Sorokina, Deputy Director for Environmental Education at the Olenye Ruchy Nature Park, told Izvestia that she could not comment on the circumstances of the case because there was no final decision yet. However, in response to a question about how specially protected natural areas (protected areas) can deal with ticks, she explained that it is impossible to carry out treatment in places such as the Deer Streams Park.
— The Forest Code of the Russian Federation in Articles 112-114, 116-119 clearly states that substances that are mutagenic, carcinogenic, poisonous, and so on are prohibited in specially protected natural territories, as well as in protected areas of reservoirs. The park has the status of a protected area, and some of the routes run along the shore. These articles are applicable to us, therefore, acaricidal treatment against ticks is not carried out," explained Elena Sorokina.
Measures, according to the representative of the park, are nevertheless being taken: hiking trails are covered with rubble and small weeding, which is simply uncomfortable for ticks to be on. In addition, it is mandatory for all tourists to receive a memo during the period of tick activity, and information stands with rules of conduct and information on where to contact in case of a bite are placed on the territory of the village, from where there is access to the routes.
At the same time, the Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology carries out treatment in residential (that is, where administrative and public buildings are located) and in the buffer zones of the park, the source added. Before these works, the center's staff collects ticks and conducts research — in 2025-2026, no encephalitis vectors were detected. Elena Sorokina admitted that there were ticks that can transmit Lyme disease (borreliosis), ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, but not encephalitis.
Industry experts are also surprised by the decision of the Verkhnepyshminsky City Court. However, most of them do not undertake to comment on it until the motivated part is published.
At the same time, the co—chairman, the state secretary of the Ecological Chamber of Russia, lawyer Vadim Petrov, notes that 2 million rubles is compensation for moral harm to parents, not a fine. As a general rule, the mere presence of ticks in a natural area does not automatically mean that the institution is responsible.
— It is necessary to establish his duties, the specific violation and the causal link with the death of the child. Natural parks have objective legal restrictions — just Part 4 of Article 112 of the Forest Code, which prescribes a ban on the use of toxic chemicals in protected areas, — the interlocutor of Izvestia draws attention.
At the same time, Article 1095 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation allows compensation for damage due to deficiencies in the service or information about it, regardless of the contractor's fault, if the service is provided for consumer purposes. An insufficient warning about the danger may have legal significance, the expert does not exclude. However, without a reasoned court decision, it cannot be argued that this has been established.
Separately, Vadim Petrov recalls that the law "On the sanitary and Epidemiological welfare of the population" and SanPiN 3.3686-21 provide for inspections on the routes visited, permissible landscaping, understandable warnings and the organization of seeking help. If there is an increased risk, the administration of a protected area should change the conditions of the visit, up to a temporary restriction of access.
The Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation confirmed to Izvestia the ban on the use of "anti-tick" chemicals in protected areas, noting that a number of national parks treat ticks exclusively in recreational areas where tourists are allowed to visit.
— These are not forests, but open spaces: ecological trails, visitor centers, tourist accommodation. That is, point-wise. In addition, all protected areas of federal significance are actively engaged in educational work: they talk about how to dress properly. And during the period of the greatest tick activity, popular destinations are closed, children's excursions are canceled," the department added.
Regarding a specific court decision, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment recommended contacting the regional ministry. Izvestia sent a request to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Sverdlovsk region. No response had been received at the time of publication.
What does the court's decision mean?
The court's decision, if confirmed, could become a real precedent — until now, lawyers had not known of such cases. Vadim Petrov cites as the closest example the ruling of the Eighth Court of Cassation of General Jurisdiction dated September 24, 2024 in the case of the death after a tick bite of an employee working at the Cook eco-resort. Then the court supported the recovery of 1.5 million rubles of compensation from the employer to the mother of the deceased.
At the same time, as Valeria Starodubova, a member of the Russian Bar Association and lawyer at Leges Bureau Law Firm, notes, in each case, the court needs to determine exactly what measures the owner, institution or other person responsible for the territory was required to take, and whether these duties were fulfilled.
— To recover compensation, it is not enough to confirm only the bite: the court will establish the place and circumstances of the incident, the defendant's specific duty to ensure the security of the territory, the fact of its violation and the causal relationship between this violation and the harm caused, — explains the interlocutor of Izvestia.
Documents on conducting surveys and preventive measures, warnings to visitors, information on the sanitary condition of the territory, and medical documents may be important. And most importantly, the expert opinion on the connection of the bite with the disease and the consequences that have occurred. The Court must also take into account what security measures the administration of the Territory has the right to apply.
Therefore, one decision does not yet create a binding precedent for similar cases, although it will draw attention to the responsibility of owners of parks, recreation centers and other recreational areas, Valeria Starodubova is sure.
— Similar disputes are possible in other regions, including regular vacation spots. But each case will require its own evidence," Vadim Petrov emphasized. — And the state's task is to provide institutions with clear responsibilities, legitimate means and resources to fulfill them. An increase in the number of visitors to natural areas should be accompanied by real protection of human life and health.
What to change in the legislation
To solve the problem, Vadim Petrov suggests paying attention to the experience of Kazakhstan, where Article 29 of the law "On Specially Protected Natural Territories" includes sanitary and epidemiological welfare in measures to protect protected areas. The work there is carried out taking into account the security regime, as well as the recommendations of scientific organizations and coordination with the authority in charge of the territory.
"Such certainty is especially important for Russia: warming is changing the geography and seasonality of the tick—borne danger," the lawyer warns. — According to Rospotrebnadzor, 54 people died from tick—borne encephalitis in 2023, 41 in 2024 and 44 in 2025. These are dozens of tragedies every year. WHO reports 10-12 thousand registered clinical cases of tick-borne encephalitis annually in the world and a significant underestimation. About 1% of cases with neurological disorders can result in death.
The expert believes that it is advisable to consolidate the financing of monitoring and prevention in the federal project "Conservation of Biological Diversity and development of ecological Tourism" of the national project "Ecological Well-being", providing for the participation of regional parks.
— We need uniform requirements for assessing the risk of routes, informing visitors and staff actions. If necessary, allow separate treatments in the forests of protected areas. And the exception should be fixed in the Forest Code with a scientific justification, limitation of sites and control of the impact on ecosystems," the expert emphasizes.
In addition, it is also important to finance the annual survey and maintenance of routes, otherwise institutions will receive responsibilities for which no resources are provided in the state assignment and budget.
Ticks go hunting
According to a study by scientists from the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute of Siberia and the Far East, 49 subjects of the Russian Federation were recognized as endemic for tick-borne viral encephalitis in 2014-2024. Encephalitis was most often found per 100,000 inhabitants in the Krasnoyarsk Territory, Kirov Region, the republics of Tyva, Altai and Khakassia, Tomsk, Novosibirsk and Tyumen regions. More than 75% of cases occur in the Siberian, Volga and Ural Federal Districts.
Rospotrebnadzor has already warned about the second peak of tick activity — warm and humid weather in early September is favorable for them. Special vigilance must be observed in the forest before the first stable frosts.
The Agency makes a number of recommendations:
— choose the right clothes — light and closed, — tuck a shirt into trousers, trousers into socks or high shoes. The sleeves should fit snugly to the wrists, and it is better to cover the head and neck with a hood or headdress.;
— use repellents;
— examine yourself every 15-20 minutes;
— after returning home, carefully check the body, clothes, things brought from the forest, and pets.
If the tick is stuck, you should seek medical help. The removed tick must be placed in an airtight container and taken to a laboratory for testing for pathogens of infectious diseases.
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