Use this page to find a wealth of information on Tick Borne Disease.
- Find generic information on tick borne diseases, where they are found, and how serious they should be taken.
- Find a range of symptomatic advice in relation to Tick Borne Encephalitis, causes and concerns.
- Find prevention tips on Tick-Borne Encephalitis. Find useful information on if it can be prevented and how this is done.
- Click here for information on the Tick Borne Disease Vaccination
Tick-borne encephalitis
What is it?
Tick-borne encephalitis is a viral infection transmitted from rodents to humans by the bite of the Ixodes tick. The virus can also be transmitted by the tick to cattle and goats, and people may occasionally contract the disease by drinking infected milk.
The ticks tend to live on the underside of leaves at ground level, particularly at the edges of forests. They attach to an animal or person when a body brushes against them or they drop onto it – they don’t jump. There are two main types of tick-borne encephalitis. The western type is the one most commonly encountered and occurs in Europe. The eastern type occurs in Russia, China and Japan.
Those at risk include forest workers and those living, walking or camping in the woodlands of Central and Eastern Europe and Southern Scandinavia.
What does it do?
After 7 to 14 days, a mild, self-limiting, flu-like illness develops. Two-thirds of people then fully recover with no further illness. But a third of people infected appear to get better only to develop a high fever and meningitis around three weeks after the original symptoms. A third of these patients may develop even more severe illnesses such as paralysis and 2% of people will die – though it can be as high as 20% with the eastern type of the disease.
Where is this tick borne disease found?
The infection is found in the woodlands of Central Europe, particularly southern Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Croatia, Poland and the Baltic states. It is also present in much of Russia and other former Soviet Republics, and may occur in southern Sweden and Finland. With global warming there is a tendency to see increasing problems in the Baltic and southern Scandinavia and a decline in Central Europe.
Can it be treated?
There is no treatment for tick borne diseases such as this.
Can it be prevented?
Tick bite prevention is the most effective means of avoiding the disease and is important in areas of risk. Travellers should watch out for ticks, which are difficult to see when small but can be as big as a sweetcorn kernel when they have fed. If bitten, the tick should be removed with a pair of tweezers applied as close as possible to the skin, pulling gently while twisting. Squeezing the abdomen will force the tick’s stomach contents into the wound.
Vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis is recommended for those who plan to camp or spend time in woodland in affected areas.
Danger rating: 2/10
