Where are the risk areas for TBE?
It used to be possible to say that early summer meningoencephalitis (TBE) occurred mainly in southern Germany. As a result of climate change and the mild winters that accompany it, more and more cases of TBE are also occurring in northern and central Germany. According to the Robert Koch Institute, defined risk areas are the majority of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg.
Isolated districts in Thuringia, Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland are also among the risk areas. In addition, there are individual districts throughout Germany in which TBE diseases have occurred more frequently, but these do not formally fall under the definition of a risk area according to the Robert Koch Institute. Finally, one should be aware that it is not only decisive whether one lives in a risk area.
For example, you can also become infected with the virus via a tick bite during a one-off vacation stay in Bavaria. Even in risk areas, however, not all ticks carry the TBE virus by a long way. The danger of being infected with the disease through a tick bite should not be underestimated.
How long is the incubation period?
The incubation period is the time between infection and the outbreak of a disease. In the case of a TBE infection, the incubation period describes the time between the tick bite and the first symptoms. It can be between two and 30 days.
On average, the first symptoms appear after 10 days. These are usually flu-like symptoms. This does not always indicate an infection with the TBE virus.
It can also be a Lyme disease, an infection with borrelia.Even in risk areas not all ticks carry the TBE virus. And even if the virus is transmitted to humans, not all patients fall ill. It is therefore important to observe yourself closely for 4 weeks after the tick bite. If there are any abnormalities, a doctor should be consulted in any case.
