Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.caboodle.hu/nc/news/news_archive/single_page/article/11/meningitis_v/?cHash=ddad5b1f31
Meningitis vaccine to remain unavailable throughout tick season
By: All Hungary News
2008-07-08 08:27
Pharmacies in Hungary are unlikely to get new supplies of a vaccine against viral meningitis spread by ticks until the end of the year, reports atv.hu.
The lack of the vaccine, which is used to inoculate adults, comes amid surging demand throughout Europe, and while Hungary faces a growing threat from diseases spread by ticks.
In southern Zala county, for example, even city parks are considered dangerously infested.
The news comes as a special blow to those who have already begun to receive a vaccine "series" which in this case requires three booster vaccinations within a year.
***
An article from spring:
Source: http://www.caboodle.hu/nc/news/news_archive/single_page/article/11/fears_for_su/?cHash=ddad5b1f31
Fears for summer as tick-borne infections jump 65%
By: All Hungary News
2008-05-05 08:22
The number of cases involving tick-borne encephalitis and meningitis increased by 65% in Hungary over the last year, leading local experts to redouble efforts to educate the public about the problem. Meanwhile, Lyme disease remains the most common illness carried by the tiny parasites, which are said to have thrived in recent years in Hungary and Central Europe as a whole in part due to the mild winters brought on by global warming.
According to Zolt?n Kapiller, the chairman of the "Hungarian Tick Alliance" (Kullacssz?vets?g), anyone spending time outdoors in the country should be wary of the problem. Pest, Buda, N?gr?d, Vas, Zala and Somogy counties are among the areas with the highest concentration of ticks.
According to Kapiller, the number of encephalitis and meningitis cases in Hungary increased from 115 to 175 over the past year. But ticks were not the direct cause in all of the cases. Last year 12 tourists fell ill after drinking milk from an infected goat in Budapest.
In Hungary, the most common types of ticks posing a threat to humans are Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor marginatus, which live in both forests and open fields. While the ticks feed on blood, they are often not bigger than the head of a pin, making them difficult to notice or remove.
Perhaps the best way to prevent tick-borne illnesses is to avoid areas with ticks. While vaccinations are available for encephalitis and meningitis, which are difficult to treat, Lyme disease can be cured with antibiotics if diagnosed early. The Tick Alliance also suggests using insect repellents. Meanwhile, Kapiller said to keep in mind that while most ticks find their way onto human hosts by dropping down from trees, they can also climb.
A tick is best removed by a doctor or with a tool that does not make the parasite suffer, as if it is squeezed it can release infectious fluids into the bloodstream.
One such tool is the "tick spoon" developed by Kapiller, which is available at pharmacies and pet stores. His website provides detailed information on his product and its usage in English. His invention won a gold award at the Brussels "EUREKA World Exhibition of Innovation" in 1999. Another recommended tool is the "tick tweezer" manufactured by Austrian pharmaceutical company Mag. Doskar, available at pharmacies and organic and herbal stores.
Another strategy for dealing with the problem is vaccination, both before and after being bitten. A vaccine that is 70% effective against encephalitis and meningitis can be taken within 96 hours after a tick bite, according to pediatrician Zsuzsanna V?szi. Another type of vaccine can inoculate people against these viruses, but has side effects powerful enough that it is not recommended for children under 12 months or people allergic to eggs. The latter course involves three shots within a year, and a booster every three to five years afterwards.
To get vaccinated, ask your doctor or visit a vaccination center such as the Intermed Olt?k?zpont (Budapest XIII, V?ci ?t 70) or the National Center for Epidemiology (Budapest IX, Gy?li ?t 2-6).
Meningitis vaccine to remain unavailable throughout tick season
By: All Hungary News
2008-07-08 08:27
Pharmacies in Hungary are unlikely to get new supplies of a vaccine against viral meningitis spread by ticks until the end of the year, reports atv.hu.
The lack of the vaccine, which is used to inoculate adults, comes amid surging demand throughout Europe, and while Hungary faces a growing threat from diseases spread by ticks.
In southern Zala county, for example, even city parks are considered dangerously infested.
The news comes as a special blow to those who have already begun to receive a vaccine "series" which in this case requires three booster vaccinations within a year.
***
An article from spring:
Source: http://www.caboodle.hu/nc/news/news_archive/single_page/article/11/fears_for_su/?cHash=ddad5b1f31
Fears for summer as tick-borne infections jump 65%
By: All Hungary News
2008-05-05 08:22
The number of cases involving tick-borne encephalitis and meningitis increased by 65% in Hungary over the last year, leading local experts to redouble efforts to educate the public about the problem. Meanwhile, Lyme disease remains the most common illness carried by the tiny parasites, which are said to have thrived in recent years in Hungary and Central Europe as a whole in part due to the mild winters brought on by global warming.
According to Zolt?n Kapiller, the chairman of the "Hungarian Tick Alliance" (Kullacssz?vets?g), anyone spending time outdoors in the country should be wary of the problem. Pest, Buda, N?gr?d, Vas, Zala and Somogy counties are among the areas with the highest concentration of ticks.
According to Kapiller, the number of encephalitis and meningitis cases in Hungary increased from 115 to 175 over the past year. But ticks were not the direct cause in all of the cases. Last year 12 tourists fell ill after drinking milk from an infected goat in Budapest.
In Hungary, the most common types of ticks posing a threat to humans are Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor marginatus, which live in both forests and open fields. While the ticks feed on blood, they are often not bigger than the head of a pin, making them difficult to notice or remove.
Perhaps the best way to prevent tick-borne illnesses is to avoid areas with ticks. While vaccinations are available for encephalitis and meningitis, which are difficult to treat, Lyme disease can be cured with antibiotics if diagnosed early. The Tick Alliance also suggests using insect repellents. Meanwhile, Kapiller said to keep in mind that while most ticks find their way onto human hosts by dropping down from trees, they can also climb.
A tick is best removed by a doctor or with a tool that does not make the parasite suffer, as if it is squeezed it can release infectious fluids into the bloodstream.
One such tool is the "tick spoon" developed by Kapiller, which is available at pharmacies and pet stores. His website provides detailed information on his product and its usage in English. His invention won a gold award at the Brussels "EUREKA World Exhibition of Innovation" in 1999. Another recommended tool is the "tick tweezer" manufactured by Austrian pharmaceutical company Mag. Doskar, available at pharmacies and organic and herbal stores.
Another strategy for dealing with the problem is vaccination, both before and after being bitten. A vaccine that is 70% effective against encephalitis and meningitis can be taken within 96 hours after a tick bite, according to pediatrician Zsuzsanna V?szi. Another type of vaccine can inoculate people against these viruses, but has side effects powerful enough that it is not recommended for children under 12 months or people allergic to eggs. The latter course involves three shots within a year, and a booster every three to five years afterwards.
To get vaccinated, ask your doctor or visit a vaccination center such as the Intermed Olt?k?zpont (Budapest XIII, V?ci ?t 70) or the National Center for Epidemiology (Budapest IX, Gy?li ?t 2-6).