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The number of cases of tick encephalitis (TBE) has increased in recent years in Europe, as well as the zone and the virus circulation period. Also, in 2021, the health authorities included the disease on the list of compulsory reporting diseases. Objective ? “Follow the evolution of epidemics over time and set up suitable public health policies”, Public health note France in a statement released on August 12.
In 2024, 62 cases diagnosed in France were notified, which corresponds to a 60 % increase in the number of cases compared to 2023, and 77 % compared to 2022, the first full year of monitoring by compulsory reporting. A vertiginous increase but which especially shows good awareness and appropriation of the compulsory report by doctors and the public, the increase in reports concerning mainly small forms of the disease.
July and August, high -risk period
Other information, 55 cases (88.7 %) declared in 2024 had acquired their infection in France. The peak of cases (start date of the signs) was in July and August with respectively 16 and 17 cases, or 53 % of the total of the year. The majority of cases had been contaminated in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Grand-Est region.
The tick encephalitis virus (TBE) is transmitted to humans by infected tick sting during professional or leisure activities, in wet wooded areas such as campsite, hikes, collecting mushrooms, recalls public health France. More rarely, contamination can be done by consumption of raw milk or raw milk cheese, mainly goat or sheep.
What are the symptoms?
After an incubation period from one to two weeks, the disease begins like flu with fever, headache and chills. Then appear in 20 to 30 % of cases, the signs of an attack on the brain (encephalitis): prostration or agitation, drowsiness, delusions, tone disorders of the muscles, loss of balance. Death occurs in 2 to 3 % of cases. 10 to 20 % of patients have consequences (paralysis).
Treatment consists of managing symptoms, there is no medication against the disease. “The convalescence of the disease is long, neurological or psychiatric sequelae that can persist after healing”, note vaccination-info-service.fr.
“Vaccination against tick encephalitis is recommended in people residing in countries where the disease is frequent and in adult travelers and children exposed in these countries”, Adds Public Health France.
How to protect yourself?
Before or during a risk exposure (hiking, gardening, walking in the forest or in pastures),
- Wear long clothes covering arms and legs, add a hat, and enter the bottom of the pants in the socks;
- Stay on the marked paths and avoid brush, ferns and tall herbs;
- Apply a suitable skin repellent against ticks.
- Inspect your body carefully to detect the possible presence of ticks;
- In the event of a bite, remove the tick as soon as possible using a ticklet or, failing that, fine pliers.
Note : Each year worldwide, between 5,000 and 13,000 cases of tick encephalitis are declared. The virus is endemic in many regions of Europe (Estonia, Slovenia, Latvia, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Austria, Sweden, Switzerland, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, Finland, Germany, France, Croatia and Norway), in Siberia, in the Russian Far East, in northern China and Japan.
Source: Public health France, Vaccination Info Service, Enceptitis.info