Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a viral infection spread to humans by the bite of a type of parasite known as a tick. The risk of infection can be minimized through immunization and preventing tick bites. You can protect yourself against ticks by taking common sense precautions, such as:

Wear long-sleeved tops and long trousers (tucked into socks). You can also treat your clothes with insecticides such as permethrin.
Apply insect repellent containing DEET to exposed skin.
Check your body for ticks regularly. Common places to find them are the hair line, behind the ears, elbows, backs of knees, the groin and armpits
The initial symptoms of Tick-borne Encephalitis usually occur one to two weeks after a tick bite and include fever, headache and general flu-like illness. Sufferers may also complain of nausea, muscle pain, lethargy and general discomfort. Some patients may go on to develop encephalitis, which can cause paralysis and can be fatal in some cases.High risk areas for Tick-borne Encephalitis include Central and Eastern Europe, in countries such as Poland, Romania, Lithuania, some parts of Scandinavia, and throughout Russia.

The risk of acquiring tick-borne encephalitis can be reduced by vaccination. The vaccine (Ticovac) is not a live vaccine and requires a 3 dose course and affords the immunized individual protection for upto two years.