Dozens suspected Tick-borne Encephalitis infections reported in Slovakia: hospital

Louis Pasteur University Hospital (UNLP) in Kosice, east Slovakia has admitted dozens of patients suspectecdly infected with Tick-borne Encephalitis since last week, hospital spokesperson Ladislava Sustova said Tuesday.

At the moment, 24 patients are in hospital and four are being monitored as part of outpatient care, Sustova said, adding, "this number isn't necessarily definitive, as the incubation period of the disease between 7-14 days hasn't expired."

The spokesperson said doctors haven't recorded any complications in treatment so far.

According to Sustova, the hospital records six cases of tick-borne encephalitis on average per year.

"Such a mass outbreak of tick-borne encephalitis hasn't been recorded at the hospital for the past six years," said spokesperson.

Symptoms of tick-borne encephalitis usually come in two waves. The first looks like mild flu, including a loss of appetite and intestinal problems. After three or four days these problems fade and the so-called asymptomatic phase occurs, which can last up to 20 days. Then a second phase sets in abruptly, featuring high fever, persistent headaches, vomiting, sensitivity to light, a stiff neck and other symptoms characteristic of the involvement of the central nervous system. Enditem