Encéphalite à tiques

Tick-borne encephalitis is a viral infectious disease that can cause inflammation of the brain or its lining. In German it is called FSME; in English, tick-borne encephalitis (TBE).

You can get tick-borne encephalitis in forests in Europe, Russia and parts of Central Asia. It has also occurred in the Netherlands for several years.

Small wild mammals, especially rodents, can carry the virus. Ticks (Ixodes ricinus and Ixodes persulcatus) infect animals and sometimes people. Ixodes ricinus can also transmit Lyme disease. Ticks live in forests, dunes, heath, meadows, parks and gardens. You cannot infect other people.

Most people barely become ill; some become seriously ill with inflammation of the brain or meninges. You usually feel flu-like at first, then headache, fatigue, nausea and vomiting. Sometimes severe headache, memory loss, paralysis or reduced consciousness follow.

Prevent tick bites with clothing that covers the skin and an insect repellent. Remove a tick as soon as possible with a tick remover: infection can start soon after the bite. You can be vaccinated; whether you need it depends on where you go, how long and what you do. Ask a travel clinic for advice.