Page 239 - TBE_Book_V2_2019

Chapter 12b

TBE by country –

country data

Gerhard Dobler, Wilhelm Erber and Heinz-Josef Schmitt

While TBE is listed as a “communicable The scientific appropriate methodology would
disease” in the EU since 2012, each country be to document that >80% of subjects with
implements reporting nationally with own meningitis/encephalitis are tested for TBE in
resources and methods. an endemic region.

In most instances, reporting of TBE cases is As this is not accomplished anywhere, the
based on passive surveillance and thus largely data shown for individual countries in Chapter
depend on disease awareness with physicians 12b are 1) not necessarily comparable to each
and on availability, cost, and use of serological other and 2) underestimate the real burden of
tests for TBE diagnosis. disease and indicate just the minimum num-
ber of cases.
Systematic, regular use of TBE serology in the
appropriate clinical setting is in place in few
countries only, despite the fact that it would
be a necessary prerequisite to gain reliable
data on the true incidence of TBE in a given
country.

234