Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus Infection in a Two-Year-Old Child Returning from Switzerland (July–August 2023): Is It Time for TBE Immunization of Serbian Travelers?

Verica Simin; Ognjen Ležakov; Ivana Bogdan; Dragana Mijatović; Dragana Gazibara; Lidija Popović-Dragonjić; Gordana Vijatov Đurić; Borko Milanović; Jelena Kesić; Andrea Đuretić; Ágota Ábrahám; Zsófia Lanszki; Gábor Kemenesi; Brigitta Zana; Krisztián Bányai; Zbigniew Zając; Dejan Jakimovski; Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz; Pavle Banović

doi:10.3390/pathogens13111013

Pathogens (Nov 2024)

Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus Infection in a Two-Year-Old Child Returning from Switzerland (July–August 2023): Is It Time for TBE Immunization of Serbian Travelers?

Verica Simin,
Ognjen Ležakov,
Ivana Bogdan,
Dragana Mijatović,
Dragana Gazibara,
Lidija Popović-Dragonjić,
Gordana Vijatov Đurić,
Borko Milanović,
Jelena Kesić,
Andrea Đuretić,
Ágota Ábrahám,
Zsófia Lanszki,
Gábor Kemenesi,
Brigitta Zana,
Krisztián Bányai,
Zbigniew Zając,
Dejan Jakimovski,
Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz,
Pavle Banović

Affiliations

Verica Simin: Department of Microbiology, Pasteur Institute Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
Ognjen Ležakov: Medical Faculty of Novi Sad, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
Ivana Bogdan: Department of Microbiology, Pasteur Institute Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
Dragana Mijatović: Diagnostics and Laboratory Research Task Force, Balkan Association for Vector-Borne Diseases, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
Dragana Gazibara: Department of Quality Control, Pasteur Institute Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
Lidija Popović-Dragonjić: Department of Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine Niš, University of Niš, 18000 Niš, Serbia
Gordana Vijatov Đurić: Medical Faculty of Novi Sad, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
Borko Milanović: Medical Faculty of Novi Sad, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
Jelena Kesić: Medical Faculty of Novi Sad, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
Andrea Đuretić: Institute for Child and Youth Healthcare of Vojvodina, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
Ágota Ábrahám: National Laboratory of Virology, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, 7600 Pecs, Hungary
Zsófia Lanszki: National Laboratory of Virology, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, 7600 Pecs, Hungary
Gábor Kemenesi: Diagnostics and Laboratory Research Task Force, Balkan Association for Vector-Borne Diseases, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
Brigitta Zana: National Laboratory of Virology, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, 7600 Pecs, Hungary
Krisztián Bányai: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1400 Budapest, Hungary
Zbigniew Zając: Department of Biology and Parasitology, Medical University of Lublin, Radziwiłłowska 11, 20-080 Lublin, Poland
Dejan Jakimovski: Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, 1000 Skopje, North Macedonia
Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz: Laboratoire de Santé Animale, UMR BIPAR, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, ANSES, INRAE, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
Pavle Banović: Diagnostics and Laboratory Research Task Force, Balkan Association for Vector-Borne Diseases, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13111013
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 13, no. 11
p. 1013

Abstract

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Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a vaccine-preventable viral infection that poses significant public health challenges, particularly in regions where tick-borne diseases are endemic. This case report describes a 2-year-old boy with confirmed abortive TBEV infection following a tick bite during travel to Switzerland. The patient developed fever and mild symptoms but did not exhibit central nervous system involvement. The case underscores the importance of raising awareness among healthcare providers and travelers from non-endemic areas, such as Serbia, about TBE risk and the potential benefits of preventive vaccination. Strategic immunization campaigns could mitigate the public health impact of travel-related TBE.

Published in Pathogens

ISSN: 2076-0817 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Medicine
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/pathogens

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