What is it?
Tick-borne encephalitis is an infectious disease caused by a virus. The virus comes in several types and is found in wild small mammals such as rodents, but can also occur in farm animals such as goats, cows and sheep. The disease occurs mainly in forested areas in Central Asia, Europe (including Germany and Austria) and Russia. It has recently begun to occur in the Netherlands as well. The disease causes inflammation of the brain and its surrounding membranes (encephalitis and meningitis), which can be fatal. There are no medicines to treat tick-borne encephalitis.
The symptoms vary from phase to phase. The first phase begins one to two weeks after infection and lasts from a few days to a week; the symptoms may be flu-like illness, fever, tiredness, general malaise and headache. This may be followed by a week without symptoms, after which the second phase sets in with severe headache, fever and inflammation of the brain and its membranes.
How do you catch it?
You can become infected with the virus that causes tick-borne encephalitis through a bite from an infected tick. Ticks pass the virus from animal to animal and to people. 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 infection with the virus that causes tick-borne encephalitis by lowering your chances of tick bites. You can do this by wearing clothing that covers the skin and applying an insect repellent containing DEET to any exposed skin. Checking for tick bites is always necessary after spending time out in nature. In addition, you can be vaccinated to reduce the risk of infection with the virus. The vaccination is not 100% protective.
The vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis consists of three injections. You should have the first injection at least 6 months before departure. You should have the second injection one month after the first, and the third 5 months after the second. The vaccination remains valid for three years.
Besides the conditions at your destination, your personal circumstances and travel plans are decisive factors in the preparations you may need to make — or are required to make — before you travel. You are welcome to come to us for expert travel health advice and the vaccination mentioned above. We keep the vaccine in stock.
The above description is only a general, concise and simplified overview and is intended for information purposes only. No rights can be derived from it. Personal advice is given exclusively during a consultation with a specially trained Certified Travel Health Physician or Travel Health Assistant.