Ticks and encephalitis: why vaccination is better in the autumn

Autumn is the time to start vaccination against tick-borne viral encephalitis. Vaccination is the most reliable way to prevent this infection. It is in autumn that it is recommended to start a course of vaccination, this allows you to form immunity by the beginning of the next season of tick activity. About why it is important and what other protection measures exist, said Rospotrebnadzor in the Kaliningrad region.

The Kaliningrad region is endemic in incidence of tick-borne encephalitis. Amber region is one of the few regions of the North-West, where the territory of all municipalities is a natural focus of tick-borne encephalitis.

In the Kaliningrad region since the beginning of the year, 5,063 people have applied for medical help for tick suction, including 1,424 children. Since the beginning of the year, 10 cases of tick-borne viral encephalitis and 40 cases of Lyme disease have been registered.

17,529 people were vaccinated against tick-borne encephalitis, including 3,256 children. The incidence corresponds to the average annual level.

Ticks are carriers of other infections (tick-borne borreliosis (Lyme disease), anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis), from which there is no specific protection. Therefore, when going to nature, it is important not to forget about simple but effective measures:

• conduct self- and inter-examinations;

give preference to light clothing (it is better to notice a tick);

• tuck your shirt into your pants and your pants into your socks;

• use repellents according to the instructions;

• wear a head covering;

• walk in the middle of paths or paths;

upon returning home, shake things off and comb your hair with a frequent comb.