Insights about tick-borne diseases, primarily tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) and vaccines against it, were shared by a Facebook user. In a long post, she provided a lot of statistics and quoted various studies, based on whose results she gave an answer to her own question about whether to vaccinate against TBE.
“If we rely on newer (?!) scientific studies, then maybe yes… BUT (probably should be à la – French words meaning ‘like’ – editor’s note) safe… If on older and all other studies analyzing the harm of vaccine components, definitely not,” the internet user claimed.
According to her, 66-75% of people infected with the TBE virus do not develop any clinical form of the disease, as their immune system supposedly destroys the virus itself. “Because their microbiota, responsible for overall health, is better than those who get sick,” the post author explained.
She then noted that most people, even after a tick bite from an infected tick, avoid the disease altogether, listed severe adverse effects that supposedly occurred in only a few people (though these data were obtained from small sample studies).
The internet user did not specify the sources of the numbers and other information listed – she suggested finding the sources themselves. The woman’s post received about 450 reactions and was shared by nearly 140 people.
From mild onset to paralysis
Tick-borne encephalitis is a viral infection, caused by the tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), which affects the brain, its membranes, or peripheral nerves, spinal cord, can cause meningitis, encephalitis, or even result in death.
According to the National Public Health Center (NVSC), TBE is one of the most severe viral infections of the central nervous system. It is most often contracted by a bite from a tick infected with the virus.
Less commonly, infection can occur by consuming unpasteurized milk from infected goats, sheep, or cows and products made from it. The disease does not spread from person to person through usual contact, except for the possibility of infecting a breastfeeding infant from the mother.
The incubation period lasts 2-28 days, on average 7. According to NVSC specialists, about 80% of cases have a biphasic course. TBE does not always start immediately with severe symptoms; it can resemble a common viral infection, so the initial symptoms are easy to confuse with a cold or flu.
Initially (2-10 days, on average 5), fever, bone, muscle, head or neck pain, fatigue, general weakness, nausea may occur. Then follows a “pseudo-recovery” period (1-33 days, usually 5-8), during which the condition temporarily but deceptively improves.
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The second phase is characterized by higher fever, stronger headache or dizziness, nausea, vomiting, neck stiffness, sensitivity to light, balance or coordination disorders. At this point, symptoms of central nervous system damage and inflammatory changes in the cerebrospinal fluid are detected (meningitis, meningoencephalitis, myelitis, paralysis, radiculitis).
Mortality – up to 35%
TBE was first described in 1927 in Austria, and the pathogen was isolated in 1937 in the former Soviet Union. The disease is caused by an RNA virus belonging to the Flaviviridae family, Flavivirus genus. There are three subtypes:
European, transmitted by Ixodes ricinus ticks, common in rural and forest areas of Central, Eastern, and Northern Europe. This tick species is found in all districts of Lithuania.
Far Eastern, mainly transmitted by I.persulcatus ticks, endemic in the Russian Far East and forested regions of China and Japan;
Siberian, also transmitted by I.persulcatus ticks, endemic in the Ural region, Siberia, and the Russian Far East, as well as some northeastern European areas.
These viruses are especially common in the Baltic countries, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Finland, eastern coast of Sweden, southern Germany. TBE occurs in many European and Asian countries.
The European subtype is associated with a milder form: 20-30% of patients experience the second phase, 0.5-2% of patients die, and up to 10% of patients develop severe neurological consequences.
The Far Eastern subtype is associated with a more severe disease, mortality reaches up to 35%, and severe neurological consequences are more frequently recorded.
The Siberian subtype is linked to a less severe disease (mortality 1-3%), but chronic or long-lasting infection develops more often.
Vaccines – the most effective prevention
According to NVSC, the infection is becoming an increasing public health challenge in Europe and other parts of the world. Over the past 30 years, the number of TBE cases in all endemic European regions has increased by almost 400%; risk areas have expanded and new foci have been detected.
The incidence in our country is the highest in Europe, although at the beginning of this year the incidence decreased. According to NVSC data, in 2019, with the overall incidence in Europe at 0.7 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, Lithuania remained the highest with 25.4 cases. From 1990 to 2021, 12,356 people in Lithuania have contracted this disease.
Also read: Fewer cases of tick-borne encephalitis and Lyme disease recorded in the country in the first half of the year
TBE is the most common and severe viral nervous system infection in Lithuania. 56% of patients contract it in their living environment, for example, at a homestead. Rural residents get sick 1.3-2.2 times more often than city residents.
The recovery period after tick-borne encephalitis is long – 6-9 months, about one-third do not fully recover. The disease is characterized by residual effects: paresis (paralysis), balance disorders, shoulder girdle muscle damage, headaches, hearing or attention disorders, psychological problems.
Also read: A doctor warns about a dangerous disease that can cause paralysis
In some cases, residual effects lead to disability. 8-9% of survivors cannot live without someone’s help. One-fifth have moderate consequences affecting quality of life, such as impaired memory, attention, sleep, making it impossible to continue studies or work in the same job.
To reduce the risk of tick-borne diseases, it is advised to choose appropriate clothing (long pants, clothes with long sleeves), use repellents, and carefully inspect the body after returning from meadows or forests. However, the most effective protection against TBE, especially the severe form of the disease, is considered vaccination. Vaccination is also recommended because there is no specific treatment for this infection; only symptoms and complications are treated.
Also read: NVSC urges vaccination: the risk of contracting this serious disease exists throughout Lithuania
Austria’s experience is given as a positive example. In 1982, in a country where the TBE incidence rate was 8.75/100,000 people, universal vaccination against this disease was started. Now, with 80-90% of the population vaccinated, TBE cases have decreased more than 12 times.
15min verdict: lacks context. Contrary to the post’s claim, vaccines are considered the most effective prevention against tick-borne encephalitis.
Publication prepared by 15min in cooperation with Meta, aiming to stop the spread of misleading news on social media. More about the program and its rules – here
