What is it?
Tick-borne encephalitis is an infectious disease caused by a virus. The virus exists in several types and is found in small wild mammals such as rodents, but it can also occur in farm animals such as goats, cows and sheep. The disease occurs mainly in wooded areas in Central Asia, Europe (including Germany and Austria) and Russia. More recently, the disease can also occur in the Netherlands. The disease causes encephalitis or meningitis, which can be fatal. There is no medicine to treat tick-borne encephalitis.
The symptoms depend on the phase. In the first phase, which begins one to two weeks after infection and lasts from a few days to a week, the symptoms may be flu-like illness, fever, fatigue, general malaise and headache. This may be followed by a week without symptoms, after which the second phase begins, with severe headache, fever and encephalitis or meningitis.
How do you catch it?
You can become infected with the virus that causes tick-borne encephalitis through the bite of an infected tick. Ticks transmit the virus from animal to animal and to humans. The virus is transmitted quickly after a bite. You can also become infected with the virus by drinking contaminated raw milk and products made with contaminated raw milk, such as cheese, because farm animals such as goats, cows and sheep can shed the virus in their milk.
How do you prevent it?
You can reduce the risk of infection with the virus that causes tick-borne encephalitis by lowering your chance of tick bites. You can do this by wearing covering clothing and applying an insect repellent containing DEET to exposed skin. Checking for tick bites is always necessary after spending time in the countryside. In addition, you can be vaccinated to reduce the risk of infection with the virus. The vaccination does not provide 100% protection. The vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis consists of three injections. You should receive the first injection at least 6 months before departure. You should receive the second injection one month after the first, and the third 5 months after the second. The vaccination remains valid for three years.
In addition to the conditions at your destination, your personal circumstances and travel plans are decisive factors in the preparations you may want or need to make before you travel. You can come to us for expert travel-health advice and the above-mentioned vaccination. We keep the vaccine in stock.
The above description is only a general, brief and simple account and is intended purely for information. No rights can be derived from it. Personal advice is given exclusively during a consultation with a specially trained Certified Travel Medicine Doctor or Travel Medicine Assistant.