Tick-Borne Encephalitis Spreads in Central, Eastern, and Northern European Regions

Recent maps released by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) indicate hotspots for tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in Europe.

There are three distinct subtypes of tick-borne encephalitis virus: European, Far Eastern, and Siberian. They are found in different areas and cause disease of varying severity.

While the virus is already present in many European countries, as of April 15, 2025, the Central, Eastern, and Northern European regions have recently reported their first human cases of TBE or have noted an increase in infections.

In Europe, ticks become infected when they feed on small rodents that have the virus in their blood. People can become infected through the bites of infected ticks.

TBE is a vaccine-preventable disease that affects the central nervous system. Vaccination is an effective means of prevention.

In addition, taking personal protective measures, such as wearing long clothing, using tick repellent, avoiding tick-infested areas, and promptly removing any ticks from the skin, can significantly reduce the risk of infection.

According to the U.S. CDC, the TICOVAC tick-borne encephalitis vaccine is available in the United States and is approved for use in persons aged 1 year and older.

As of April 21, 2025, the CDC recommends that TICOVAC be considered for some travelers visiting high-risk areas.