Page 364 - TBE_Book_V2_2019

Chapter 12b

TBE in Poland

Katarzyna Pancer and Włodzimierz Gut

History and Current Situation

Clinical symptoms of tick-borne encephalitis The developed distribution map of TBE cases
(TBE) were first described in Poland in 1948 by and confirmed presence of TBEV in Poland
Demiaszkiewicz. All patients had been living in was based on results from seroprevalence
the Białowieża region (in northeastern studies, viral isolation, and clinical data. Some
Poland). Similar infections were described to regions were determined to be endemic for
those that had been diagnosed in the same TBEV. These included provinces in the north-
region before World War II as complicated eastern part of Poland (Białystok, Olsztyn,
1
cases of typhoid fever or influenza. Suwalki) and southwestern Poland (Opole). 3,4,6
–12

Twenty-eight cases of TBE were identified in In total, 576 TBE cases were reported during
1952 among patients hospitalized in Nysa the 23 years of surveillance (1970–1992); the
Kłodzka (in southwestern Poland). In 1954, 35 annual number of reported TBE infections
cases were identified in the Olsztyn region in varied from 4 (1991) to 60 (1970), and the
northern Poland. More cases were recognized incidence ranged from 0.01/100,000
in the following years across different regions inhabitants to 0.2/100,000 inhabitants,
of Poland: northern (Gdańsk, Szczecin), central respectively. In the 1980s, the number of
(Łódź), and southern (Kraków). This was the reported TBE cases decreased to 14–19 cases
catalyst for scientific research studies by annually because of abandonment of diagnos-
Przesmycki’s team in selected regions of the tics tests. 2,13
2
country in the years 1953 through 1957. In
these studies, tick-borne encephalitis viruses In 1993, when new commercial tests became
(TBEV) were isolated from human specimens available in Poland, reported TBE cases
as well as from animal samples (small increased more than 30-fold in comparison to
mammals) and vectors (ticks). Isolated viruses 1992 (249 vs. 8 cases). In 1993, the incidence
were determined to be TBEV, European sub- of TBE (0.65/100,000) was the highest
2–4
type. observed since surveillance began in 1970.
This trend continued into the 21st century,
Seroprevalence studies were conducted in the and more than 300 TBE cases were reported in
late 1960s and early 1970s. Serum samples the years 2003 (339 cases), 2006 (317 cases),
collected from ~17,000 blood donors and and 2009 (351 cases). The highest incidence
20,000 forest workers living in different parts (0.92/100,000) was reported in 2009. The
of Poland were examined. Distribution of annual number of reported TBE cases de-
13
positive serological results varied depending creased to 149 in 2015.
on place of residence: ranging from 0.5% to
6.5% among blood donors and 7% to 27% In total, 3,662 cases of TBE were reported in
among forest workers. The seroprevalence Poland between 2000 and 2015. The incidence
data also indicated high numbers of asymp- has varied from 0.33 to 0.92/100,000. A 3–4-
tomatic or non-severe infections among year cycle was identified based on the re-
examined populations. 2,5–9 ported numbers of TBE cases, with peaks ob-

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