Andersen et al.
EPI-NEWS, no. 34/35-2020 (Statens Serum Institut)
New cases of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in Tisvilde Hegn in North Zealand and on the island of Falster
Updated 15 September 2020
In 2019, the recreation area Tisvelde Hegn (North Zealand, Denmark) has been identified as a TBE risk area. Four patients were infected with TBE, and the TBE virus could be detected in flagged ticks around a popular playground from that region (EPI-NEWS 25/2020).
Consequently, this playground was closed by the authorities and was newly installed in a presumably TBE virus-free area. However, it happened that three patients (two women and one man) were infected in surrounding areas from June to August 2020.
For the first time, TBE was detected on the island of Falster – in a woman bitten by a tick in May 2020. TBE infection was verified by IgM and IgG antibodies in blood and spinal fluid. This patient, who suffered from meningitis and encephalitis, regularly visits various woods on Falster, and therefore, it would be difficult to identify the exact TBE virus focus by flagging ticks.
These data demonstrate that TBE is geographically spreading in Denmark.