Ľudmila Šišková
The tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is an infection, caused by the flavivirus from group B. Humans are infected by virus transmitted by the bite of an infected tick or, less commonly, by drinking unpasteurised milk from infected goats or other mammals. The disease is endemic in forested parts of western, central and eastern Europe and Scandinavia, (Central European encephalitis), and in the Far East, (Russian Spring-Summer encephalitis). The disease is closely connected with the distribution if its vector, Ixodes ricinus, vector of Central European Encephalitis and the distrubution of Ixodex persulcatus – vector of Russian Spring-Summer encephalitis. TBE virus is believed to cause at least 11 000 human cases in Russia annually, whereas in Europe about 3 000 cases are reported each year(12) . The incubation period is 8-14 days, the therapy is symptomatic. Vaccination is recommended to start in autumn or in winter.
Key Words: Tick-borne Encephalitis, flaviviruses, Ixodes ricinus, prevention of Tick-borne Encephalitis