title: Reliable surveillance of tick-borne encephalitis in European countries is necessary to improve the quality of vaccine recommendations.
abstract: In July-November 2009, 26 European Union (EU) Member States (MSs), Norway and Iceland, participated in a survey seeking information on national tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) vaccination recommendations. Information on TBE surveillance, methods used to ascertain endemic areas, vaccination recommendations, vaccine coverage and methods of monitoring of vaccine coverage were obtained. Sixteen countries (57%) reported presence of TBE endemic areas on their territory. Vaccination against TBE was recommended for the general population in 8 (28%) countries, for occupational risk groups - in 13 (46%) countries, and for tourists going abroad - in 22 (78%) countries. Although vaccination recommendations for country residents, and for tourists always referred to endemic areas, there was no uniform, standardized method used to define endemic areas. For this reason, clear recommendations for tourists need to be developed, and standardized surveillance directed to efficient assessment of TBE risk need to be implemented in European countries.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Public Health-National Institute of Hygiene, Warsaw, Poland. pstefanoff@pzh.gov.pl
authors.forename: Pawel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stefanoff
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Polkowska
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Giambi
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Levy-Bruhl
authors.forename: Darina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: O'Flanagan
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dematte
authors.forename: Pier Luigi
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Lopalco
authors.forename: Jolita
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mereckiene
authors.forename: Kari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Johansen
authors.forename: Fortunato
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: D'Ancona
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004675:Encephalitis, Tick-Borne / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019353:Endemic Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014611:Vaccination / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014765:Viral Vaccines