Tick-borne encephalitis.

Journal article

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a zoonotic arbovirus infection endemic to Russia and Eastern and Central Europe. Despite being a common and serious life-threatening disease for which a mass vaccination program was implemented in Austria, there is only limited reference to this disease in the English-language literature. TBE is transmitted to humans usually by the bite of a tick (either Ixodes persulcatus or Ixodes ricinus); occasionally, cases occur following consumption of infected unpasteurized milk. Transmission is seasonal and occurs in spring and summer, particularly in rural areas favored by the vector. TBE is a serious cause of acute central nervous system disease, which may result in death or long-term neurological sequelae. Effective vaccines are available in a few countries. The risk for travelers of acquiring TBE is increasing with the recent rise in tourism to areas of endemicity during spring and summer.

Authors: Dumpis, U; Crook, D; Oksi, J

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America
• Volume: 28
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 882-890
• Publication date: 1999-04-01
• DOI: 10.1086/515195
• EISSN: 1537-6591
• ISSN: 1058-4838
• Language: English
• Keywords: Humans; Animals; Encephalitis, Tick-Borne; Arachnid Vectors; Ixodes; Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne