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Archive Number 20090826.3009
Published Date 26-AUG-2009
Subject PRO/AH/EDR> Tick-borne encephalitis - Russia (08): (UD)

TICK-BORNE ENCEPHALITIS - RUSSIA (08): (UDMURT)
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A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

Date: Mon 24 Aug 2009
Source: Argumenti i fakti v Udmurtii News Service [trans. Mod.NP, edited]
<http://aifudm.net/news/news3182.html>
According to the Administration of Rospotrebnadzor, in the Republic of Udmurtia there were 142 visits to healthcare facilities as a consequence of tick bites during last week (Fri 14 Aug - Thu 20 Aug 2009). This number is 1.4 times lower if compared with the same indicator for the previous year [2008].

In total, 19 878 people, including 3520 children (18 percent), reported tick bites since the beginning of the tick season in 2009, which is 7 percent more than in 2008. Historically, the highest number of tick bites (7871) were recorded in the capital of Udmurtia [Izhevsk].

17 520 ticks have been tested in the virology laboratory of Udmurtia. 12.8 percent of samples tested positive for tick-borne encephalitis [virus infection], and 39.5 percent tested positive for tick-borne borelliosis [Lyme disease, the other major tick transmitted disease in the Republic]. Currently, there are 46 confirmed cases of tick-borne encephalitis (a 4 percent increase from the previous year [2008]).

Tick activity is at its highest during the warm months to the first frosts, and precautions must be taken to avoid tick bites throughout this period, especially during recreation and work in forested areas. The most effective protection is through immunisation against tick-borne encephalitis virus infection. Russian and imported vaccines confer similar levels of protection, and the producers guarantee adequate antibody responses in not less that 90 percent of cases. The vaccination schedule consists of 3 shots, the 1st is recommended in October or November, the 2nd in March or April of the following year, not less than 2 weeks before tick activity resumes, and the 3rd shot is administered after one year. Subsequently, immune status is maintained by single shots every 3 years. Emergency immunization allows administration of 2 shots 2 weeks apart, and the remaining doses are administered according to the normal schedule.

–
Communicated by:
ProMED-RUS <promed@prmedmail.org>

To read full article: CLICK HERE

Contents include:

•Editorial: Tick-Borne Encephalitis – Still an Emerging Infection in the Region
•Epidemiology of Tick-Borne Encephalitis and Lyme Disease in the Republic of Belarus, 1998-2007
•Epidemiological Trends of Tick-Borne Encephalitis in Estonia
•Tick-Borne Pathogens and Spread of Ixodes ricinus in Lithuania
•Tick-Borne Encephalitis in Denmark
•Tick-Borne Encephalitis in Norway
•Tick-Borne Encephalitis in Europe and Beyond – The Epidemiological Situation as of 2007
•Specialist Profile Series: Milda Žygutienė
•Surveillance Data in the EpiNorth Area, 2008

To access PDF file: CLICK HERE

06:48, 09.04.2009 | Приморский край

The tick-borne encephalitis mortality rate in the region is four times as much as average in Russia

VLADIVOSTOK. April 9. VOSTOK-MEDIA – Nine residents of Primorskiy Krai have already applied to the hospital on account of the bite of the ticks.

Experts state that the season of ticks begins in April in Primorskiy Krai and lasts till October. And the whole Primorskiy Krai is a high risk area of tick-borne encephalitis infection. The most dangerous regions of Primorskiy Krai are: the north of the Primorye, Chuguevskiy, Anuchinskiy and Spasskiy regions.

In 2008 almost 5 thousand people applied to hospitals because of the ticks’ bites, 1.2 thousand of them are children. 24 people got the encephalitis and two of them died.

One can catch encephalitis at any region of the country, but Primorskiy Krai is the most dangerous area.

The main safety method is vaccinal prevention. It is supposed to vaccinate more than 794 thousand people this year.

http://www.vostokmedia.com/n42001.html

Archive Number 20090201.0450
Published Date 01-FEB-2009
Subject PRO/AH/EDR> Tick-borne encephalitis - Austria

TICK-BORNE ENCEPHALITIS - AUSTRIA
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Experts of the International Scientific Working Group on Tick-Borne Encephalitis (ISW-TBE) have been warning of the dangers of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE). Now, hikers are among those in danger, because tick [numbers] have been climbing higher.

The year 2008 marked the 1st time that ticks infected with the TBE virus were detected at more than 1500 meters above sea level, one of the consequences of global warming. The ISW-TBE has been calling for vaccination against TBE to become a standard preventive measure for everybody traveling to endemic regions.

For travelers, failing to undergo preventive vaccination may have far-reaching consequences. TBE, a viral disease transmitted by ticks, affects the central nervous system. Its diverse forms of expression range from minor neurological dysfunction to impaired concentration,depression, severe paralysis, or even death.

“Since 1990, more than 157 500 cases of TBE have been registered in Europe, corresponding to 8755 cases annually. Its climatic conditions make Austria a high-risk country for TBE. Because vaccination coverage in Austria is exceptionally high, the number of TBE cases has come down from 677 in 1979 to 86 in 2008,” explains Professor Jochen Suss, Friedrich-Loffler-Institute, Jena. “At a European level,” says Professor Pier Luigi Lopalco from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), “TBE is not yet a notifiable disease. However, we have been working to raise awareness of the dangers of TBE to motivate people to get vaccinated.” Once infected, there is no [specific] treatment available.

Further information can be obtained at:
<http://www.ISW-TBE.info>,
<http://www.TBE-prevention.info>, and
<http://www.tick-victims.info>.

[Byline: Michael Leitner, Public Health PR-Projektgesellschaft mbH
<michael.leitner@publichealth.at>]

Date: Thu 29 Jan 2009
Source: PR Newswire on behalf of ISW-TBE (International Scientific
Working Group on Tick-Borne Encephalitis) [edited]
<http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/news/release?id=247573>

A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

Published on: 2008-12-09

The incidence of tick-borne encephalitis showed a dramatic spike in several countries in Europe in 2006, a year that was unusually cold in winter but unusually warm and dry in summer and autumn. In this study we examine the possible causes of the sudden increase in disease: more abundant infected ticks and/or increased exposure due to human behaviour, both in response to the weather.

Methods: For eight countries across Europe, field data on tick abundance for 2005-2007, collected monthly from a total of 41 sites, were analysed in relation to total annual and seasonal TBE incidence and temperature and rainfall conditions.

Results: The weather in 2006-2007 was exceptional compared with the previous two decades, but neither the very cold start to 2006, nor the very hot period from summer 2006 to late spring 2007 had any consistent impact on tick abundance.

Nor was the TBE spike in 2006 related to changes in tick abundance. Countries varied in the degree of TBE spike despite similar weather patterns, and also in the degree to which seasonal variation in TBE incidence matched seasonal tick activity.

Conclusion: The data suggest that the TBE spike was not due to weather-induced variation in tick population dynamics.

An alternative explanation, supported by qualitative reports and some data, involves human behavioural responses to weather favourable for outdoor recreational activities, including wild mushroom and berry harvest, differentially influenced by national cultural practices and economic constraints.

Author: Sarah E Randolph, Loreta Asokliene, Tatjana Avsic-Zupanc, Antra Bormane, Caroline Burri, Lise Gern, Irina Golovljova, Zdenek Hubalek, Natasa Knap, Maceij Kondrusik, Anne Kupca, Milan Pejcoch, Veera Vasilenko and Milda Zygutiene

http://7thspace.com/headlines/299633/variable_spikes_in_tick_borne_encephalitis_incidence_in_2006_independent_of_variable_tick_abundance_but_related_to_weather.html

Medical News Today : Article Date: 21 Oct 2008 - 2:00 PDT

Fritz et al. have identified an amino acid switch that flaviviruses flip to gain access to cells.

Flaviviruses such as tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), yellow fever, and dengue are dangerous human pathogens. These membrane-encircled viruses enter cells by being gobbled up into endosomes and fusing their membrane with that of the endosome.

Fusion is triggered by the endosome’s acidic environment. Low pH prompts the aptly named fusion protein, on the virus’s outer membrane, to change shape and grab hold of the endosome membrane, bringing the two membranes together. In their search for possible pH sensors, researchers have focused on five highly conserved histidine residues in the flavivirus fusion protein. The chemical properties of histidines make them prime candidates - they switch from uncharged to having a double positive charge upon acidification of their environment, such as that in endosomes.

Fritz et al. replaced each of the five histidines of the TBEV fusion protein with alternative residues and observed the virus’s fusion ability. Given the conservation of the five histidines, the team was surprised, that mutation of one of the histidines, His323, was sufficient to completely abolish fusion. Individual mutation of three of the others had no effect on fusion whatsoever, and mutation of the fourth led to an untestable ill-formed fusion protein.

The team went on to show that mutation of the crucial His323 interfered with the pH-induced shape change of the fusion protein. 
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/126148.php

By ČTK / Published 7 August 2008 - Prague, Aug 6 (CTK)

A record number of people, over 3900 were infected by ticks in the Czech Republic in the first half of 2008, which is the highest figure for the same period since 1982 when the data started to be registered, the State Health Institute (SZU) informed CTK today.

A total of 238 people got ill with tick-borne encephalitis and 1663 with Lyme disease (borreliosis) between January and June in the ten-million Czech Republic.

The incidence of tick-borne encephalitis has been the highest since 1982, according to the SZU data.

In 1982, 51 case were registered.

The number of people infected with Lyme disease has also been rising, though not distinctively, Dagmar Hulinska, from the SZU, said.

The institute has annually registered some 3000 cases for a couple of years.

Experts point put that the higher amount of infected ticks is connected with changes in the wild, in particular milder winters and longer summers.

Hulinska added that ticks now appear in higher altitudes more often than in the past.

Health Ministry spokesman Tomas Cikrt said the number of people infected by ticks would be rising year-on-year in the Czech Republic.

The ministry therefore recommends that people be vaccinated against tick-borne encephalitis.

The increased incidence of infected ticks has been reported on over 90 percent of Czech territory.

The highest number of tick-transmitted illnesses is annually registered in south Bohemia, the Vysocina Highlands and in the surroundings of the Vranov dam and Brno, south Moravia.

In 2007, 542 people got tick tick-borne encephalitis and four of them died, and 3559 people suffered from Lyme disease in the Czech Republic.

Unlike tick-born encephalitis, there is no vaccination available against Lyme disease. However, pharmaceutical companies are developing a vaccine.

A Czech company has recently started testing a new vaccine against borreliosis.
Tick-transmitted illnesses in CzechRep from January to June

Jan- June                             2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Lyme disease                      1114 1297 1546 1292 1216 1166 1255 1494 1663
tick-borne encephalitis     141    139   185    209   119    137    184    205    238
Total                                      3255 3437 3733 3504 3339 3308 3445 3706 3909

Source: State Health Institute (SZU)
http://www.praguemonitor.com/en/395/czech_national_news/26471/

Dr Richard Dawood
Last Updated: 3:44PM BST 27/06/2008

With cases of tick-borne encephalitis on the increase, Dr Richard Dawood explains how to avoid a potentially fatal virus.

The number of cases of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) – a serious viral infection prevalent in central Europe – rose by almost a third last year, according to a leading expert.

Professor Michael Kunze, chairman of the International Scientific Working Group (ISWG) on TBE, says the number of people across Europe who needed hospital treatment for the infection rose from 10,000 cases in 2006 to 13,000 in 2007. The ISWG considers that climate change is partly to blame, with warmer temperatures and more rain creating perfect conditions for ticks to thrive.

Professor Kunze says that this year’s toll could be higher still, as more than two million people travelled to Switzerland and Austria this summer to the UEFA European football championships. Many are expected to stay on to enjoy outdoor activities that could put them at risk.

TBE is an infection of the nervous system, spread by tick bites, that occurs in 30 countries across central Europe, Asia and the Far East. The disease is seasonal, with risk extending from spring to autumn. The risk is highest for those who take part in outdoor activities such as hiking, camping and mountain biking. There is also a risk of infection through consuming dairy products prepared from infected animals.

In severe cases the illness resembles meningitis and without specific testing can be mistaken for it. There is no specific treatment, and some sufferers are left with lasting neurological damage; approximately one per cent of cases are fatal. Within the affected parts of Europe, the risks are widely known and understood. In Austria, for example, an anti-TBE vaccine is offered to the entire population. Elsewhere, many people are ignorant of the disease.

A safe and effective vaccine is available, suitable for adults and for children at least one year old. At least two doses are needed for protection, with a two-week gap between the first and second doses.

How should ticks be removed?

Remove them gently by grasping the head at the point of contact with the skin with fine tweezers. An alternative is to use a thin piece of card with a narrow “V” cut out of it: ease it under the tick until the apex of the “V” is at the head, then lift gently. Do not grasp a tick by its body, since this might force its abdominal contents into the bite, increasing the risk of infection. Retain the tick so that it can be identified later, if necessary. Ticks need to remain attached for several hours for disease transmission to occur, so early removal greatly reduces the risk.

Do ticks spread other diseases?

Yes. Lyme disease is also on the increase in Europe. Even if you have been vaccinated, it is worth taking careful precautions to avoid tick bites.

How do I prevent them?

In high-risk areas, wear long trousers and tuck them into your socks. Light-coloured clothing makes ticks more visible. Inspect your skin carefully for ticks at the end of each day – travelling companions should inspect each other. Ticks can be tiny, and perhaps two thirds of tick bites pass unnoticed. The best available tick repellent is the insecticide permethrin, available as a liquid or a spray: apply it liberally to clothing, especially socks and trouser legs.

What should I do if I’m bitten?

Don’t panic and seek advice, ideally from local doctors. The risk of TBE infection from a single bite has been estimated at between 1 in 200 and 1 in 1,000. Report a fever, rash or any other symptoms right away.

Dr Dawood is a specialist in travel medicine at the Fleet Street Clinic (020 7353 5678).

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/2202634/Tick-borne-encephalitis-threat-in-central-Europe.html

09:00 - 08 May 2008

Holidaymakers are being warned about the dangers of contracting diseases through tick bites.

The insects which belong to the spider family, are responsible for infecting some 3,000 people in the UK each year.

The International Scientific Working Group - scientists investigating Tick-Borne Encephalitis (TBE), a potentially fatal disease, says climate change is producing higher temperatures and more rainfall creating perfect conditions for ticks to thrive in countryside areas.

Cyril Mundy contracted Lyme disease while worker at Sherwood Pines Forest, cutting trees. He contracted it ten years ago and says he has been taking antibiotics for two years, since it was diagnosed. The 67-year-old from Rainworth, Notts, said

“I haven’t been able to work since I got Lyme disease and the taking the antibiotics is a slow process.”

Tick Alert Week runs from until Sunday and is designed to raise awareness of tick-borne diseases in the UK and Europe.

Dr Hugh Porter from the MASTA (Medical Advisory Services for Travellers Abroad) Travel Clinic, based in the Cripps Health Centre at the University of Nottingham said: “All the evidence shows that the prevalence of TBE and other tick-borne diseases is on the increase in some countries.”

A website with advice and information has been set up at www.masta.com/tickalert .
http://tinyurl.com/5l9ceb