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Tick-borne encephalitis is a virus that affects the nervous system. Approximately one third of people infected may develop a severe form of the illness that can cause long term complications or even be fatal. The severity of the disease increases with age.
Flu-type symptoms at first. Symptoms of the severe form are fever, severe headache, seizures, becoming semiconscious or unconscious.
How do you catch Tick-borne encephalitis?
Infected ticks spread the virus through their saliva. They live at ground level in forests, woods, grasslands, riverside meadows, marshes and shrub lands. The virus can also be transmitted by drinking unpasteurised milk from infected cows, goats or sheep but this is rare.
Incubation period
Approximately 8 days
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is confirmed through a blood test or fluid from the spinal cord.
Prevention
Avoid tick bites by wearing long sleeves, long trousers tucked into socks, sturdy footwear and using an effective insect repellent. Take care to inspect your skin each day and remove any ticks using fine tipped tweezers.
Treatment
There is no specific treatment for tick-borne encephalitis – severe cases require hospital care to manage any complications. An effective vaccine is available for travellers who may be at risk.
Medical Director, MASTA
PhD MSc MBBS MRCGP FRCPCH FFPH FFTM RCPS(Glasg.) FRCP(Glasg.)
GMC No. 3115417Professor David Ross OStJ is the Medical Director of MASTA and has been associated with MASTA since 2005. He served 41 years in the Army, including over 10 years as senior advisor on public health to the UK Surgeon General. In 2012 he was appointed the Parkes Professor of Preventive Medicine, in 2014 an Honorary Queen’s Physician and in 2023 an Officer in the Order of St John.