TICK BORNE ENCEPHALITIS
ATTENTION ALL WALKERS, RAMBLERS AND CAMPERS:
If you are heading off this late spring, summer, or early autumn to any of the following countries:
France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, The Balkans, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Scandinavia, Eastern part of the Former USSR extending across China, Russia, Austria, , and Northern Japan.
Be aware beware of the IXODES TICK.
If bitten by this tick, one could contract a flavivrus infection called TICK BORNE ENCEPHALITIS.
There are two types of this disease:
1. Eastern subtype
2. Western subtype.
TRANSMISSION
The tick lives in long grass, and whilst running or walking through the grass the infected Ixodes tick will bite the human thus transmitting the Tick Borne Encephalitis disease. The tick loves a wet spring and a long hot summer, which provides the best breeding situation, hence due to global warming the risk is spreading
SYMPTOMS OF THE DISEASE
The incubation period for both subtypes is 3-14 days.
EASTERN SUBTYPE
When infection is evident it results in the following:
• Sudden onset of severe headaches
• Fever
• Photophobia
• Nausea
And in severe cases can lead to the progression of Encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), and mortality at this stage is approximately 20% of those who have contracted the disease. At this time, the symptoms are the following:
• Headaches
• Stiff necks
• Photophobia
• Convulsions
• Altered mental state
WESTERN SUBTYPE
The patient has a flu-like illness for a few days, and potentially a third of the infected could develop the symptoms as above.
TREATMENT
There is no specific treatment available
PREVENTION
It is strongly suggested that one wears long trousers, long thick socks, no shorts and uses insect repellent. Attempt to avoid tick bites and if bitten remove tick immediately.
Tick removers are available from the CLINIC for £7.00.
The vaccination is available at this clinic for children and adults, and is a course of three vaccines for adults and children from the age of 1 year over 5-9 months
Available from The Travel Clinic Ltd