Sciensano & Tick-borne encephalitis

Last updated on 27-7-2023 by Tinne Lernout

Sciensano collects information on the number of people diagnosed with tick-borne encephalitis in Belgium and on the place of infection (country where the person travelled). We also collect information on the circulation of the virus in animals and on areas at risk of tick bites in the country, and we study the interaction between the virus, ticks and several animal hosts.

Surveillance of the disease in humans

Sciensano’s Epidemiology of infectious diseases division describes the epidemiology of tick-borne encephalitis in Belgium, monitors the epidemiology of the disease in Europe and assesses the risk that this disease could pose for Belgium. To this end, it works in collaboration with the National Reference Center for arboviruses, which is in charge of the diagnosis of the disease in humans (Institute of Tropical Medicine). 

The results on the epidemiology of TBE in Belgium are presented in a yearly report, see under “Scientific reports”.

Surveillance of TBEV in ticks and animals 

Since 2009, the laboratory of Viral Diseases and the unit of exotic and vector-borne diseases of Sciensano carried out several prevalence (sensitive virus detection tests) and seroprevalence (using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), followed by a seroneutralization test (SNT) for confirmation) studies of TBEV infection in ticks, sentinel animals and the reservoir animal population. Serological studies can be used to determine whether the animal populations studied have been in contact with the virus at some point in their lives. These studies allow to monitor the presence and spread of TBEV in Belgium what is useful to different health authorities to assess the potential risk to humans in different regions and local ecosystems of Belgium.

Depending on the animal species studied, different prevalence rates have been reported, ranging from 0,11% in dogs in 2009 (Belgium) to 9,27% in wild boar in 2019/2020 (Flanders). The results of the latter study suggest an increase in TBEV prevalence over the last decade, although this increase could also be related to a different diagnostic set-up. 

A total of about 3,000 ticks, removed from humans and animals or collected through flagging, have been tested for TBEV since 2017, using PCR techniques. All were negative.

The “Viral Diseases” laboratory also carries out experimental studies to characterize the infection of Belgian wild rodents with TBEV. Wild rodents are considered the reservoir of the TBEV virus. Between 2015 and 2016, a prevalence study of TBEV infection was conducted in wild rodents caught in Wallonia (the southern region of Belgium) with the aim of isolating the TBEV virus in Belgium, but no positive result was detected among the rodents tested.

Mapping of risk areas for a tick bite

TekenNet or TiquesNet is a citizen — science platform created in 2015 and managed by the Epidemiology Service of Infectious Diseases of Sciensano. It allows citizens to report tick bites on humans contracted in Belgium, via a website or a cell phone app.

The objective of the project is to monitor the exposure of the Belgian population to tick bites over time and space. Based on that data, Sciensano can better map the time frame and geographical risk zones of higher tick activity in Belgium, which allows people potentially exposed to tick bites to take appropriate preventive measures.

QR code

QR code for this page URL

Contacts

Events

There are currently no events associated to this health topic

Other sources of information

There are currently no external links associated to this health topic

In the media

There are currently no media associated to this health topic