Published Date: 2001-03-26 23:50:00
Subject: PRO/AH/EDR> Tick-borne encephalitis - Czech Republic (02)
Archive Number: 20010326.0611

TICK-BORNE ENCEPHALITIS - CZECH REPUBLIC (02)
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See Also

Tick-borne encephalitis - Czech Republic 20010324.0585
Date: Sun, 25 Mar 2001 16:31:11 +0200
From: "Martin Haditsch, MD, PhD" <martin.haditsch@travel-clinic.at>

Some additional comments on the increased incidence of TBE
----------------------------------------------------------
One very important reason for the increase of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE)
infections is the change of leisure time activities: ticks are attracted by
butter acid - for example, in human sweat. Ticks are not limited to the
woods; lying on the ground, going through high grass, even sitting in the
garden or in parks in endemic areas may be a substantial risk.
The manifestation rate of clinical disease will not exceed 1:100, the
severity of TBE (as in some other diseases) is age-dependent, and the
presentation , especially in children, may not be as the classical
"meningo-encephalitis". We must therefore consider underreporting and
erroneous estimations of transmission rates [as relevant factors.
In Austria the figures of proven cases decreased from more than 700/year
(in the pre-vaccination era) to less than 100/year. (the population of
Austria is about 8 million). The only [plausible reason [for the fall is
increasing vaccine induced immunity. TBE virus (a flavivirus) itself
continues to spread (which must be expected in an infection with an
enzoonotic cycle) as is to be seen in figures from the Czech Republic,
Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, and Italy (European subtype) and
Japan (Far Eastern subtype). [The spread of TBE virus will only be limited
by the prevalence of the natural vectors _Ixodes ricinus_ and _Ixodes
persulcatus_; the latter also being present in South East Asia.
--
M Haditsch
<martin.haditsch@travel-clinic.at>
.......................cp/sh
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