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The TBE virus is a rare, zoonotic arbovirus traditionally endemic to Central and Eastern Europe, as well as Russia, but has also been reported in Eastern Asian countries.1 The virus itself is a member of the Flavivirus family, which also includes viruses that can cause dengue fever, yellow fever, and Japanese encephalitis.2
Infection of TBE virus by ticks can occur in any place where ticks are endemic, such as wooded areas, parks, gardens, forests, or other outdoor locations.3
When a tick acting as a TBE vector bites humans or animals, there is a significant risk that those organisms will become infected with the TBE virus.4
Transmission of the virus can also occur through the consumption of unpasteurized dairy products that have been contaminated with the TBE virus.4 TBE severity may be associated with viral subtype.1 TBE virus subtypes may cause different clinical characteristics of TBE and have different mortality rates.1,5
Infections from either of the subtypes have been shown to attack the Central Nervous Systems (CNS), leading to potentially severe or, on rare occasion, fatal outcomes.6
There is no cure or treatment for TBE.7,8 Patients infected are only able to manage their symptoms through various treatment methods.7,8