2023-08-03 15:55:00
tick-borne encephalitis
Ticks are growing at breakneck speed in Europe, bringing with them dangerous diseases, including tick-borne encephalitis, also known as TBE. This was recently detected in Moselle and Meurthe-et-Moselle, at the gates of the Grand Duchy.
The threat is growing little by little in Europe! There is indeed more and more talk of the tick-borne encephalitis virus or TBE. This is transmitted to humans by tick bite, in humid wooded areas such as camping, hiking or when picking mushrooms.
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As we know, ticks can also transmit Lyme disease. In Luxembourg, 12 cases of this disease were recorded in 2022, which represents a big decrease compared to the pre-covid years. The disease causes its share of symptoms, sometimes over the long term, but is only very rarely fatal. Quite the opposite of tick-borne encephalitis. And for good reason, the infection affects the central nervous system, the brain and the spinal cord in a significant proportion of cases, and can leave lifelong sequelae. According to Public Health France, 40% of those affected may have neurological sequelae for several years. And then 0.5-2% of cases can be fatal.
A growing incidence
And unfortunately, the incidence of the disease in Europe is only growing year by year. In France, 71 cases were notified between May 2021 and May 2023. A few days ago, the National Public Health Agency announced new risk areas, where contamination took place. And these are at the gates of Luxembourg since they took place in the departments of Moselle and Meurthe-et-Moselle, at the gates of the Grand Duchy!
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Should we be worried about it? We remember that just a few weeks ago, the Luxembourg Ministry of Health mentioned an increased risk of being bitten by a tick, due to the proliferation of these charming little beasts. Indeed, with the mild winters and wet springs that we have experienced recently, ticks are more numerous in nature.
No case identified in Luxembourg
Contacted, the Ministry of Health explains to us that in recent years, cases have been reported in neighboring countries. “However, they remain rare to very rare with, for example, two cases in Belgium in 2018 and none since”, indicates the ministry. As far as the Grand Duchy is concerned, no cases have been reported. “Regions where more cases are occurring are Austria, Slovenia, Slovakia, Hungary, the Czech Republic, the Baltic States, southeastern Germany and eastern Sweden. The number of reported cases in the EU was 3,734 in 2020 compared to 2,679 cases in 2016.”
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However, the authorities take the extension of the area of territory in which infected ticks are found very seriously, especially since high concentrations have been identified in the Grand Est. “The Ministry of Health and the Directorate of Health follow the evolution of epidemiology at European level. In addition, the disease is notifiable, so if a case is diagnosed in Luxembourg, the health inspection will be notified. We regularly inform about the infectious risks linked to ticks and the possible vaccination for tick-borne meningoencephalitis in the event of travel to regions at risk.”
ways to protect yourself
Fortunately, there are ways to protect yourself from tick bites. Recommendations can be found in particular on the Health website. “To avoid bites, wearing loose, long clothing is advised. Walkers must stay on the paths so as not to pass through vegetation that could carry ticks waiting for a host to pass. Repellents can be used, but they are toxic, especially to children and with prolonged use. If you travel to a risk area and practice outdoor activities there, you can get vaccinated against tick-borne meningoencephalitis,” the Ministry of Health informs.
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