EN
The paper presents the morphology, life cycle and diagnosis of Echinococcus multilocularis, the tapeworm which can cause a dangerous disease, alveolar echinococcosis in humans. Results of studies done in recent years in Poland have shown an increasing frequency of the parasite in red foxes in the north, north-east and south-east of Poland. These areas are of potential for infection of humans, especially for risk groups (foresters, hunters, collectors of berries and mushrooms etc.).