Tick-borne encephalitis: from epidemiology to vaccination recommendations in 2007 New issues – best practices

Abstract

The 9th annual meeting of the International Scientific Working Group on Tick-Borne Encephalitis (ISW TBE) was entitled "Tick-borne encephalitis: from epidemiology to vaccination recommendations in 2007, new issues--best practices". Over the past three decades, TBE has become a growing public health challenge in Europe and other parts of the world. Between 1974 and 2003, the number of reported clinical TBE cases increased by an appalling 400 %, the only exception having been Austria. This increase is the result of a complex interplay of social, economic, political, ecological and climatic factors, the relative weight of which is not easily quantifiable. Important projects and issues for the future work of the ISW TBE have been identified, such as implementing a standardized TBE case definition, raising awareness of TBE among travellers, availability of rapid immunization schemes, increasing vaccination rates in endemic countries, and publishing information on TBE cases.

Tick-borne encephalitis virus in ticks detached from humans and follow-up of serological and clinical response

“…It might also be that this age group is more exposed to ticks, as suggested by the peak in Lyme disease incidence reported amongst the 60 -75 years old age group in southern Sweden (Berglund et al, 1995). The TBEV vaccination coverage for the Swedish participants in our study was higher than the overall vaccination coverage of the Swedish population (Kunze, 2007), suggesting the participants in our study have a higher awareness of TBDs, that they visit TBE endemic areas more frequently, or are generally more anxious about TBDs. The fact that as much as 18 participants reported having had TBE previously, points to an overrepresentation of this group in willingness to take part in our TBD STING study.…”

Tick-borne encephalitis and golden agers: position paper of the International Scientific Working Group on Tick-borne encephalitis (ISW-TBE)

“…Unlike other viruses, the TBE virus is not transmitted from human to human. However, unvaccinated travellers to TBE-endemic regions may suffer far-reaching consequences when bitten by an infected tick [12]. Statistical modelling suggests that the likelihood for an unvaccinated tourist to acquire TBE in a highly endemic region in central Europe is similar to the risk of acquiring typhoid fever in India [13].…”

From childhood to golden age: increased mobility – increased risk of contracting tick-borne encephalitis?

“…Travellers to TBEendemic regions failing to undergo vaccination may suffer far-reaching consequences when bitten by an infected tick [5,18,19]. Travellers usually do not visit travel clinics for European travel and have little or no knowledge of TBE risk or prevention.…”

“…The number one message of the ISW-TBE throughout the years has been that TBE is a vaccine-preventable disease, with the field effectiveness of the vaccine as high as 99% [1] -among the best achievable by active immunization against viral disease. The work of the group has been summarized in several previous conference reports [2][3][4][5][6].…”