An online device that helps travellers find out whether they might be at risk of potentially fatal Tick Borne Encephalitis (TBE) in Europe is now available at the Tick Alert website (www.tickalert.org). The ‘TBE Travel Check’ takes less than a minute to complete and asks users a sequence of simple questions about where they are going and any outdoor activities they are planning to determine their level of risk. A message at the end of the test advises whether a user should consider seeking medical advice ahead of their trip. A Tick Alert spokesperson said: “The TBE Travel Check gives people a better understanding of their risk before they travel so they can think about the need for precautions against the disease.

“Many of us heading into Europe often don’t consider seeking travel health advice so we hope this quick check will help.”

The ‘TBE Travel Check’ is one of a number of new-look features to Tick Alert’s website (www.tickalert.org), which now includes the latest updates on TBE risk, prevention measures taken by health authorities in various destinations and an interactive map showing risk areas of Europe.

TBE is a viral disease contracted via the bite of an infected tick which is endemic in 27 countries in Europe. It leads to an annual average of 10,000 cases needing hospital treatment. Two in every 100 TBE sufferers will die from the disease.

Email for more details: lisa@tickalert.org, sam@tickalert.org or richard@tickalert.org.

Notes:

• The Foreign Office advises that travellers to TBE-endemic regions seek medical advice from their local surgery or clinic well before travelling.
• TBE-endemic countries are: Albania, Austria, Belarus, Bosnia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine.
• TBE-infected ticks are found typically in rural and forest areas from late spring and throughout summer. At-risk groups include all visitors to rural areas of endemic countries, particularly those participating in outdoor activities such as camping, trekking, hiking, climbing and cycling/mountain biking.