| Abstract [eng] |
Tick-borne encephalitis represents one of the most significant tick-borne viral diseases in Europe and Asia. Over the past few decades, the incidence of the disease has risen steadily, a trend largely driven by climate change and ecological shifts. This development has led to a significant increase in its relevance to public health, as the virus has continued to spread into new areas. The aim of this thesis was to conduct a comprehensive analysis and critical assessment of the current status of the infection. The focus was on examining epidemiological trends and the geographical spread of the virus in regions where it was previously non-endemic. In addition, the thesis sought to evaluate the clinical complexity of the disease, particularly the burden of long-term consequences, as well as the effectiveness of existing prevention strategies and the barriers to high vaccination rates. The research method employed was a comprehensive narrative review of current scientific data and international studies. This involved a critical synthesis of national surveillance systems, as well as an analysis of clinical and epidemiological parameters in various European countries. Particular emphasis was placed on comparing countries with different vaccination strategies and incidence rates, such as Lithuania and Austria. The findings highlighted that the virus posed a highly dynamic threat. Lithuania, in particular, recorded one of the highest incidence rates in the world, with case numbers rising significantly over the course of several decades. Clinically, the infection manifested as a characteristic biphasic course, leading to severe neurological complications in a large proportion of patients. A key finding was the substantially underestimated burden of post-encephalitic syndrome, which often had a lasting impact on the quality of life of those affected. Despite the availability of vaccines with proven efficacy of over 95%, vaccination coverage remained inadequate in many endemic areas. A lack of individual risk awareness and economic factors were identified as major barriers. In contrast, the example of Austria demonstrated that consistent mass vaccination programmes were able to virtually eliminate the burden of disease. The thesis concluded that Tick-borne encephalitis posed a growing challenge to healthcare systems. It highlighted the urgent need for harmonised surveillance systems and targeted public awareness campaigns. Future research efforts should focus more on developing specific therapeutic approaches and optimised vaccine technologies in order to effectively counter the virus’s increasing geographical spread. Increasing vaccination uptake has been identified as the key factor in successfully controlling the disease. |
