Tick-borne encephalitis is a tick-borne viral infection that causes damage to the central nervous system. The causative agent of the disease is usually transmitted Ixodes ricinus ticks, according to the prevalence of infection, Lithuania belongs to the endemic zone, together with other Baltic countries, Finland, Sweden, Germany, the Czech Republic and Slovenia.
The first ticks in Lithuania this year were already observed in March. at the beginning - which is several weeks earlier than 2023. The early activity of ticks and the increasing prevalence of tick-borne encephalitis both in Lithuania and throughout Europe are caused by climate changes. It is predicted that due to warming weather, the prevalence will increase, especially in the Northern part of Europe.
Symptoms of tick-borne encephalitis usually appear 1-2 weeks after ingestion of a tick or consumption of thermally untreated milk or its products. Tick-borne encephalitis is characterized by a two-wave course of the disease: at first, flu-like symptoms are felt, followed by a 1-30-day "recovery" period, after which serious health problems related to the brain or spinal cord appear - meningitis, meningoencephalitis, encephalitis. About 30% of people who develop this infection have long-term neurological consequences, such as chronic headaches, cognitive impairment or paralysis. Up to 4% of those infected die from tick-borne encephalitis.
Places with the greatest risk of ingesting a tick are unmowed grass, bushes, forest paths. City dwellers who walk their pets outside must take precautions, as four-legged animals can also bring ticks into the home. Hunters, berry pickers, mushroom pickers, people who like to spend time in nature or do sports also have a higher risk. Since Vilnius is considered one of the greenest cities not only in Europe, but also in the world, the probability that you will be bitten by a tick in the city park is considerable.
You can protect yourself from ticks with physical means - properly prepared clothing, repellents. After being in nature, it is important to examine the body and, if you find a tick that has been sucked in, remove it as soon as possible. However, the most important method of protection against tick-borne encephalitis is vaccination. Vaccinations available in Lithuania are safe and effective, vaccination is possible with regular or accelerated schemes. According to the supplemented National Immunoprophylaxis Program of the Ministry of Health of Lithuania, from 2024 September 1st, vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis is expected to be compensated for persons aged 50 and older.
What to do if a tick is sucked in? If you notice an infected tick, it is recommended to remove it as soon as possible. This procedure can be done at home or in a healthcare facility. Tick removal process:
- The tick is grasped as close to the skin as possible using clean tweezers.
- By squeezing the tweezers as hard as possible, the tick is pulled out with an upward movement. It is not recommended to rotate the tick during pulling.
- Sometimes parts of the tick's mouth remain in the skin (the so-called "whiskers" are visible) - we pull them repeatedly with tweezers. If it is not possible to remove them, the skin is washed with soapy water and disinfected.
- The extracted tick should not be crushed.
- Disposable tweezers are thrown away, reusable tweezers are washed with soap and disinfected. Hands are washed with soap and disinfected.
- It is recommended to remember the date of tick ingestion due to possible infection with tick-borne encephalitis or other tick-borne infections. This information will be useful if you notice any suspicious symptoms.
