The number of cases of tick-borne encephalitis in Lithuania is the highest in Europe, the Vilnius Public Health Office "Vilnius svieviau" announces.
European Center for Disease Prevention and Control 2022 according to the report, the average incidence of tick-borne encephalitis in Lithuania is 24,3 cases per 100. population. in 2022 According to the data of the National Public Health Center (hereinafter - NVSC), the incidence of this disease in the city of Vilnius was 11,2 cases per 100. population, and in Vilnius district 14,3 cases out of 100 thousand. population. In the latest 2023
According to NVSC data, the incidence of tick-borne encephalitis in the city of Vilnius is 7,9 cases per 100. population, and in Vilnius district 13,7 cases per 100 thousand. population (from January to August). Comparing these data, we can see that the number of illnesses may still increase in the autumn months.
Anyone can get this disease, but the highest incidence is observed in adults aged 45 to 64 years.
Tick-borne encephalitis is a viral disease caused by Ixodes ticks that feed on human blood. This pathogen is found in tick saliva and is transmitted to humans within minutes of ingestion.
Matas Budriūnas, a specialist in the Public Health Monitoring and Strategic Planning Department of the Vilnius Public Health Office "Vilnius svieviau", warns that we can encounter ticks not only in nature, but also in city parks.
Currently, in Vilnius city municipality there are green signs with information that there may be ticks in the area.
"The signs show the places where ticks usually get sucked in, thus encouraging residents to check their clothes and body after walking in nature, because ticks don't get sucked in immediately, but after a while (from 10 minutes to 2 hours). After scanning the QR code on the green sign with the phone, a person is directed to a memo of frequently asked questions and answers prepared by specialists. In this memo, you can find information about diseases spread by ticks, prevention of how to protect yourself and pets, and vaccinations against tick-borne encephalitis," notes M. Budriūnas.
ELTA (ELTA)
