Pathogen of the Week
Tick-Borne Encephalitis

For those of you that are avid ruralarea

hikers, or if you happen to love

drinking that cold glass of raw goat,

sheep or cow milk, be advised that you

may become infected with the tickborne

encephalitis virus (TBEV).

While the usual hosts of the virus

are small rodents, human can accidentally

become hosts as well. There are

no cases of person-to-person transmission,

but consuming milk from infected

animals, or being bitten by a viruscarrying

tick can lead to infection.

Those who become infected with

TBEV may manifest meningitis,

encephalitis, or meningoencephalitis.

All three conditions involve some sort

of inflammation of the central nervous

system (CNS).

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is

usually referred to as a neurologic

disease, with permanent long-term

injuries to the nervous system in

10–20 percent of infected patients.

The symptoms may seem drastic,

but the condition will remain asymptomatic

for 7 to 14 days. But for raw

milk drinkers, incubation time is

shorter—probably fortunately so, in

order for treatment to take place

sooner. Symptoms of TBE contraction

include fever, anorexia, muscle aches,

headache, nausea, vomiting.

Following this not-so-pleasant 2- to

4-day initial phase, 20–30 percent of

infected people experience symptoms

that affect the CNS, such as a stiff

neck, motor abnormalities, and confusion.

Worse yet, mortality is in 1–2 percent

of cases, with death occurring 5–7

days after onset of the second phase.

The disease may seem frightening,

but luckily, the majority of patients do

not exhibit symptoms past the initial

phase. While there is no specific drug

therapy treatment for those with TBE,

hospitalization and supportive care

can provide relief.

But even then, TBE is found mostly

in parts of Europe, the former

Soviet Union and Asia. If traveling to

these areas though, ticks that are

chronically infected with the virus

most often infect humans between

April and November, mostly through

tick bites. Being more careful during

tick season by wearing proper clothing

and using insect repellents can

prevent any unpleasant, virus-containing

bites from occurring.

As with all possible incidences of

catching viruses, proper care should

be taken to prevent contraction. The

last thing you want is to fall into a

sudden lapse of mental confusion

while writing your next paper!

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