A person in North Zealand has been infected with the TBE virus after a tick bite in May, confirmed the State Serum Institute (SSI) in a press release on Friday morning. This is the first reported case of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), also known as central European encephalitis, this year. North Zealand, especially areas like Tisvilde Hegn and surrounding forests, are known to have an increased risk of tick bites and thus infection with the TBE virus. “The infection is usually associated with staying in risk areas, typically off the trails,” says Peter H.S. Andersen, department doctor and section leader at SSI. He adds that there have also been cases where patients have not exhibited known risk behaviors, such as staying in forests or thickets.
Nanna Skaarup Andersen, department doctor at the Clinical Microbiological Department at Odense University Hospital (OUH) and clinical lecturer at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU), earlier this year recommended that Danes who love forests get a TBE vaccine. Although the risk of getting infected with TBE is relatively small, the number of cases has been increasing. Ten years ago, there were between 1 and 2 cases annually, but in 2023, 11 cases were reported.
TBE infection occurs through the transfer of a virus from ticks to humans, and there is no specific treatment for the disease. In most cases, the disease resolves on its own, but about 35 percent of patients who experience severe symptoms may have permanent consequences, as stated on sundhed.dk. Ticks carrying the TBE virus are found in small, defined areas, such as meadows or clearings. The tick season in Denmark extends from spring to autumn. Unlike the Borrelia bacterium, another common tick-borne disease, the TBE virus transmits quickly after the bite. “Therefore, it is important to remove a tick as soon as you notice it. Either with your fingers, tweezers, or a special tick remover. It is not crucial whether you can remove the entire tick,” emphasizes Peter H.S. Andersen.