TBE is a viral infection that’s normally transmitted through an infected tick bite.  Ticks are commonly found in parts of central, eastern, and northern Europe across Russia and some areas of eastern Asia that have altitudes lower than 1,500m.

Ticks are common on forest fringes close to grassland, forest glades, forest plantations, riverside meadows, marshland, and shrubbery. You may also get ticks in parks and gardens.

Travellers to places where TBE is common may be vulnerable when camping, working or walking in woodlands. In Europe, spring and summer seasons are the riskiest, however, seasons differ depending on location. From 2011, only six cases of TBE have been confirmed and reported in the UK. All had a history of travelling to the TBE endemic places of Europe.

Normally, the condition happens in two phases: a mild flu-like sickness, before a potentially severe infection of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). Although TBE is hardly dangerous in Europe, in Asia the fatality rate is up in 20 percent of cases. The disease causes long-term neurological complications.

Prevention

Anyone travelling should:

– Keep off parts of the forest and woodland that are known to be heavily tick-infested during the spring, summer, and autumn.

– Perform bite avoidance practices, for instance, wearing  proper clothing and using effective insect repellants.

– Regularly check for ticks on your body. However, the larval forms of Ixodes ticks are small and hard to see.

– Immediately remove ant ticks using a pair of tick remover or fine-tipped tweezers.

– Avoid taking unpasteurised dairy products in risky places (a potential stop-over).

– Seek medical attention from a licensed medical official if any symptoms of the disease occur within 28 days of a tick bite.

Vaccination

The Tick-Borne vaccination is available for anyone planning to visit or travel to rural and risky places, or whose work puts them at higher risk.

Tick-borne encephalitis vaccine is given to:

– All individuals travelling to or living in endemic areas.

– Farmers, forestry workers, and soldiers.

– Those working in laboratories.