What the experts say

Read what the world's leading scientists and health experts say about the dangers from TBE.

The International Scientific Working Group on TBE is a group of the world's leading experts responsible for investigating and researching into the disease. Its work includes identifying countries and regions in Europe where ticks carrying TBE are found and finding ways to combat the disease and improve treatment.

6 reasons to protect against TBE

1. According to the ISW, there are on average 10,000 cases of TBE needing hospital treatment across Europe every year.

2. The World Health Organisation (WHO) states that 35%-58% of TBE patients suffer long-term neurological problems, such as paralysis, and 2% die from the disease.

3. For unimmunised tourists, the likelihood of contracting TBE in an endemic region is similar to the risk of contracting typhoid in India.

4. A national immunisation campaign against TBE has existed in Austria since 1980 and there are similar programmes in Switzerland, Germany and the Czech Republic.

5. In April 2009 health officials in Sweden warned tourists visiting Stockholm and its surrounding archipelago to protect against ticks because of a rising number of TBE cases.

6. TBE is a notifiable disease in 16 European countries including popular Alpine destinations such as Austria and Switzerland, Germany, the Baltic States and the emerging tourist regions of Slovakia and Slovenia.