For some years there is an increase of TBE at higher altitudes. Now a TBE infection on a mountain pasture in Defereggen in East Tyrol became known to more than 1,800 meters above sea level.
Ticks penetrate into ever more heights, says ticks specialist Gernot Walder. But that ticks occur until about 1,800 meters, is surprising even for virologists. This was the first year of infection in East Tyrol. The person concerned had during the whole incubation period - that is, six weeks before the outbreak of the disease - never found under 1,900 meters above sea level, so Walder.
More ticks by global warming
Until now it was always assumed that one located on the pastures outside the TBE zone so Walder. However, the infectious arachnids are adaptable. If the microclimate agree that ticks can be active very early and to establish itself in higher elevations. This is now the case is confined, however, not only to East Tyrol. In the Alpine region, one should expect in the future generally increased with tick bites, so Walder.
Even Karl-Heinz Fischer of the Provincial Health Directorate in Innsbruck was surprised, however, the case was understandable. Also because to increase due to global warming, the mean annual temperature. This new habitats to be found for ticks and TBE virus, said Fischer. This means that one must also therefore be expected in the future with an increased risk of infection, since the higher elevations in the Alpine region for leisure of Tyrol are very important.
TBE by unpasteurized milkTBE can also be transmitted through the milk of grazing animals. In Latvia, the TBE infection by unpasteurized milk as milk fever is known. With us the milk fever is now rare to have occurred because there is little ticks when the cattle graze in the valley. A similar case with cheese it had however already given in Vorarlberg. There are four people infected by unpasteurized goat cheese with TBE in 2008 - at an altitude of 1,600 meters.
In general, reports the East Tyrolean physicians Gernot Walder a rapid increase in ticks in our country. It recommends in any case to be vaccinated - be it for the valley or the alpine region.