or '''Tick-borne encephalitis''' is a
Tick-borne Viral Infection of the
Central Nervous System affecting humans as well as most other mammals. The virus can infect the membrane that surrounds the brain and spinal cord (
Meningitis ), the brain itself (
Encephalitis ), or both (
Meningoencephalitis ). It is transmitted by the bite of infected
Deer Tick s or (rarely) through the non-
Pasteurized Milk of infected
Cow s, and unlike other forms of meningitis is '''not'''
Contagious between humans.
The responsible virus, TBEV (for ''Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus''), is a member of the genus
Flavivirus . Its closest relatives include
Omsk Hemorrhagic Fever virus,
Kyasanur Forest Disease virus,
Alkhurma Virus ,
Louping Ill Virus ,
Langat Virus and the
Powassan Virus .
Russia reports at least 11,000 human cases annually, and the rest of Europe about 3000. The disease is untreatable once manifest, but can be prevented by
Vaccination . In humans, the disease is lethal in approximately 1.2% of cases and leaves 15-20% of its survivors with permanent neurological damage.
