Tick-borne encephalitis

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a viral infection transmitted by ticks. In rare cases, you can also contract it through unpasteurized milk or cheese from infected animals, such as cows, goats, or sheep. The virus can cause meningitis and/or encephalitis. In German, the disease is also called Frühsommermeningoenzephalitis (FSME).

Where does it occur?

You can contract tick-borne encephalitis in natural areas such as forests, dunes, meadows, and parks in Europe, Russia, and certain areas of Central and Eastern Europe and Asia. The disease has also been present in the Netherlands for several years, but the number of infected ticks is small here, and the risk of contracting tick-borne encephalitis in the Netherlands is therefore low.

The same ticks can also transmit Lyme disease, which is more common in the Netherlands than tick-borne encephalitis. The active tick season is from April to November. Destinations where you should be aware of tick-borne encephalitis:

• Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Poland
• Southern Sweden, the Baltic States
• China, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and South Korea

Check if tick-borne encephalitis occurs at your destination: Travel information by destination - KLM Health Services.

What are the symptoms?

Tick-borne encephalitis is often mild, with flu-like symptoms such as headache, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting. In severe cases, the disease can lead to meningitis and/or encephalitis with severe headache, memory loss, paralysis, or decreased consciousness, days to weeks after the first symptoms.

How can you prevent tick-borne encephalitis?

The best thing to do is avoid being bitten by a tick.

• Wear protective clothing and closed-toe shoes.
• Apply DEET to exposed skin.

You can get vaccinated against tick-borne encephalitis. Whether this is necessary depends on where you are going, how long you are going, and what you will be doing. Therefore, ask if a vaccination is necessary for your trip during your visit to one of our Travel Clinics.

If you do get a tick bite, always remove it immediately to minimize the risk of infection.

More information

Are you travelling to an area where tick-borne encephalitis is prevalent? Then make an appointment for a personalized consultation.

Would you like to know more about tick-borne encephalitis? Visit Tick-borne Encephalitis | RIVM and LCR - Travel Advice.