Tick-borne encephalitis in Europe and beyond – the epidemiological situation as of 2007

This review presents an overview of the developments in the epidemiology of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) during 2007 in Europe, the Far East and Asia, as well as some comments interpreting the various developments. The recent TBE situation in 29 European and four non-European countries is shown and discussed. The number of registered TBE cases from 1976 to 2007 in 19 European countries with endemic TBE is presented. Although criteria for TBE reporting vary from one country to another and it is necessary to account for unreported cases, an overall increase of TBE incidence during the last 30 years can clearly be established. Besides changes in climate and weather, a number of additional factors are probably responsible for this rise: increased exposition, partly due to socio-economical and political changes, and other factors that are for the most part unknown. In addition, the immunisation coverage in the population of some of the countries is discussed.