An infected tick poses great threat. The experts say: Vaccinate!

Last year recorded the lowest number of persons infected with TBE in the last 10 years

Experts emphasize that the most effective way of fighting the disease is vaccination. The basic vaccination program against TBE includes three doses of vaccines. Foto: MMC RTVSLO

With the beginning of spring ticks become more active. Ticks spread the tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), a viral infectious disease involving the central nervous system. The disease can be fatal for around one percent of those infected. Five percent of those infected suffer different kinds of paralysis.

Last year 102 people got infected with tick-borne encephalitis (TBE). That’s considerably less than in the previous year, when Slovenia registered 309 such cases. Experts warn that the oscillation in numbers is normal. They are very much concerned though with the low vaccination rate, especially when Slovenia is among the countries with the highest illness rates.
The vaccination scheme
Experts emphasize that the most effective way of fighting the disease is vaccination. The basic vaccination program against TBE includes three doses of vaccines. It is recommended that a person gets the first two doses before the ticks become active – February, March or April – to build up a protection system. The third dose should then be taken 6-12 months later. Booster doses are then recommended three years after the first vaccination, while second booster doses are advised to be taken after every five years. The elderly population is an exception. Booster doses for them are advised after every three years.
Ksenja Tratnik, MMC; translated by K. J.