Tick-borne encephalitis cases increase in Switzerland
A significant increase in cases of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) this year has been reported by the Federal Office of Public Health, which recommends getting vaccinated against the virus.
This content was published on
2 minutes
SDA-ATS/ln
Some 150 people have already been infected with the virus – which in rare cases can be fatal – since the beginning of 2018, the health authorities said in a reportExternal link on Monday.
In June alone, 73 people fell ill with early-summer meningoencephalitis. This is a significant increase compared with figures for June for previous years, the health office wrote. From 2000 to 2017, between 46 and 109 cases were reported for the whole year.
The blood-sucking tick is very active early on this year, it said. Significantly more people had sought treatment for tick bites or Lyme disease so far this year.
By the end of June around 21,300 visits to the doctor concerned tick bites and 6,900 were acute cases of Lyme diseases, according to a health office projection.
In Switzerland, the tick season starts in March and ends in June, depending on the weather. The health office says ticks are found above all in deciduous forests with lush undergrowth and at an altitude of up to 1,500m.
Only a small proportion of ticks carry the TBE virus, which occurs only in certain areas of Switzerland.
TBE-infected ticks can cause the outbreak of two stages of the disease. During a first episode, which occurs seven to 14 days after the sting, patients suffer flu-like symptoms such as headaches, fever, fatigue or joint complaints.
In 5%-15% of those affected, a second stage of the illness develops, which can last for months and may involve symptoms of meningitis or encephalitis. These symptoms can cause paralysis and leave permanent disabilities. About 1% of cases are fatal.
The health office recommends vaccination against the TBE virus for people from the age of six who live in an area where the disease is endemic.
Much more common than tick-borne encephalitis is Lyme diseases, which must be treated with antibiotics.
More
More
The ticks attack
This content was published on
Ticks are spreading more than usual this year in Switzerland. If not treated properly, their bite can cause serious diseases. Here’s how to recognise the symptoms and remove a tick.
Rhine flooding: Swiss to invest CHF1 billion with Austria
This content was published on
As part of an international agreement with Austria, the Swiss government wants to pump CHF1 billion ($1.1 billion) into flood protection measures along the Rhine over the next three decades.
Swiss government proposes CHF10 million UNRWA donation
This content was published on
After months of debate, Switzerland will pay CHF10 million ($11 million) to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, rather than the CHF20 million initially foreseen.
Swiss study: insects mainly migrate at midday and dusk
This content was published on
A study led by the Swiss Ornithological Institute in canton Lucerne is helping to better understand the movement patterns of migratory insects.
Red Cross: 22 staff killed in Middle East since October
This content was published on
The Red Cross and Red Crescent network in Gaza and Israel has lost 22 staff members since last October, the Swiss Red Cross (SRC) said on Wednesday.
Dortmund’s Kobel is first Swiss goalie in Champions League final
This content was published on
Borussia Dortmund’s Gregor Kobel has achieved history by becoming the first Swiss goalkeeper to reach a Champion’s League final.
University students in Switzerland join Gaza protest wave
This content was published on
Pro-Palestinian activists occupied university buildings in Lausanne, Geneva and Zurich on Tuesday, widening the protest movement in the Alpine nation.
TradeXBank to resume full operations after Sberbank Switzerland taken off sanctions list
This content was published on
TradeXBank, the former Swiss branch of Russia’s Sberbank, will be able to resume its dollar-denominated activities from the second half of this year.
Geneva decides not to remove controversial memorials
This content was published on
The city of Geneva has presented an action plan regarding a series of controversial local statues and monuments of historical figures linked to racism, colonialism or slavery.
University of Lausanne calls for end to pro-Palestine sit-in
This content was published on
The pro-Palestinian occupation continues at the University of Lausanne (UNIL). On Monday evening, a group of students refused to agree to the deadline set by the rectorate.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Tick bites and Lyme disease on the rise
This content was published on
Physicians in Switzerland have seen a sharp increase in the number of tick bites as well as cases of Lyme disease this year.
This content was published on
The current hot summer in Switzerland is being enjoyed not just by people but also by wasps, bees and mosquitos. The organisation is therefore advising people to take precautionary measures, such as not drinking out of cans. The smallest insects cause the biggest problems, SUVA said on Tuesday. Wasps, bees and ticks cause some 20,000…
Meningitis cases from tick bites on the rise in Switzerland
This content was published on
More people in Switzerland have contracted meningitis from tick bites so far this year than at any point in the last decade, according to federal health officials. They are emphasising the need for vaccines to prevent the disease. Speaking with the SonntagsZeitung newspaper, Daniel Koch of the Federal Health Office called the increase in meningitis…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.