Slunge et al.
Who is afraid of ticks and tick-borne diseases?
Results from a cross-sectional survey in Scandinavia
BMC Public Health 2019, 19:1666
The spread of tick-borne infectious diseases constitutes rapidly growing health risks in Europe and elsewhere. In the Scandinavian countries Denmark, Norway and Sweden, Ixodes ricinus has expanded northwards and upwards in elevation in the recent decades. Alongside this development, the incidence of Lyme borreliosis (LB) and TBE has increased. A comprehensive study has been carried out about the level of knowledge and risk perception related to ticks and tick-borne diseases among people in these three Scandinavian countries (Scandtick Innovation). The educational attainment measured as the share of respondents having attended university was from 62% (Sweden) to 77% (Denmark).
The risk of contracting TBE and/or LB after a tick bite was grossly overrated compared with scientific estimates (around 20% vs. 2%). There was an association between high risk perception and being female, being older and having lower education. The average level of knowledge about ticks, LB and TBE was low among the respondents. Nearly half of them mistakenly believed that there is a LB vaccine available and a quarter of them did not know that LB can be treated with antibiotics. In Sweden, the country with the highest incidence of TBE, less than 20% knew about the existence of TBE vaccines. Men and younger age groups were on average less knowledgeable about TBE and LB.
Providing information that leads to increased knowledge about ticks and tick-borne diseases would therefore be a relevant public health strategy. Should the TBE virus spread further in Denmark and Norway, information about TBE in general and the possibility of vaccination would be especially important in these countries.