Microorganisms (Jun 2022)

Recommendations to Improve Tick-Borne Encephalitis Surveillance and Vaccine Uptake in Europe

  • Michael Kunze,
  • Pavle Banović,
  • Petra Bogovič,
  • Violeta Briciu,
  • Rok Čivljak,
  • Gerhard Dobler,
  • Adriana Hristea,
  • Jana Kerlik,
  • Suvi Kuivanen,
  • Jan Kynčl,
  • Anne-Mette Lebech,
  • Lars Lindquist,
  • Iwona Paradowska-Stankiewicz,
  • Srđan Roglić,
  • Dita Smíšková,
  • Franc Strle,
  • Olli Vapalahti,
  • Nenad Vranješ,
  • Nataliya Vynograd,
  • Joanna Maria Zajkowska,
  • Andreas Pilz,
  • Andreas Palmborg,
  • Wilhelm Erber

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10071283
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10, no. 7
p. 1283

Abstract

Read online

There has been an increase in reported TBE cases in Europe since 2015, reaching a peak in some countries in 2020, highlighting the need for better management of TBE risk in Europe. TBE surveillance is currently limited, in part, due to varying diagnostic guidelines, access to testing, and awareness of TBE. Consequently, TBE prevalence is underestimated and vaccination recommendations inadequate. TBE vaccine uptake is unsatisfactory in many TBE-endemic European countries. This review summarizes the findings of a scientific workshop of experts to improve TBE surveillance and vaccine uptake in Europe. Strategies to improve TBE surveillance and vaccine uptake should focus on: aligning diagnostic criteria and testing across Europe; expanding current vaccine recommendations and reducing their complexity; and increasing public education of the potential risks posed by TBEV infection.

Keywords