An online device that helps walkers find out whether they might be at risk of potentially fatal Tick Borne Encephalitis (TBE) when travelling across Europe is now available at the Tick Alert website.
The ‘TBE Travel Check’ asks a sequence of simple questions about where travellers are going and any outdoor activities they are planning, to determine the level of risk. A message at the end of the test advises whether a user should consider seeking medical advice ahead of a trip.
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.
For further information on tick-borne diseases see the Tick Alert , Lyme Disease Action and BADA-UK websites.