Climate change in central Europe presents a ticking time bomb for holidaymakers' health

Published on Monday 28 April 2008 20:01

CLIMATE change is putting a growing number of Scottish holidaymakers at risk of a potentially fatal disease spread by ticks, top scientists warned yesterday.

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) – which attacks the nervous system and can lead to meningitis, brain inflammation and death – is endemic in many popular European holiday destinations.

Now experts have warned that the combination of higher temperatures and rainfall that is associated with climate change is allowing the ticks to thrive. It is also possible the disease could become endemic in Scotland, spread by migrating birds and then surviving in the warmer climate in the future.

But for now, scientists believe the biggest threat from TBE is to tourists from Scotland and the rest of the UK, as awareness of the condition is still very poor.

Professor Michael Kunze, the head of the International Scientific Working Group on TBE (ISW), said climate change is swelling tick populations.

"Whereas in the past we did not think you would find populations with TBE at 12,000 metres and above, we are now seeing them shifting into more mountainous areas," he said.

"The warmer climate affects the biology of the animals that the ticks feed off, such as pigs, which makes it more of a problem. The hotter climate also means that people are more likely to wear short sleeves and less clothing, and spend more time outdoors during the warm weather. This exposes them to ticks when they are on holiday."

TBE is now endemic in 27 countries across Europe, including Germany, Greece, Sweden and Denmark.

But there are fears it could spread further – cases have already been reported in the Alpine regions of Switzerland and Austria, and last year 13,000 people needed hospital treatment for TBE.

Professor Jochen Suss, a member of the ISW, said: "Climate change in central Europe means that many areas will have higher than average temperatures and more rain. Higher rainfall is a favourable factor for disease-carrying ticks and as a consequence the risk of getting an infectious tick bite will rise in many areas."

He added: "It is believed that the life cycle of ticks will increase in the next few years, and as a result the geographical distribution of ticks will expand and population density will rise."

Prof Kunze said: "I would not exclude TBE becoming endemic in the UK in future, but the real risk at the moment is from people going abroad and bringing it home with them.

"My assumption is that you do have cases of TBE in patients in Scotland and England.

"These people may be presenting at hospital with meningitis but the average doctor in Edinburgh is not going to think it is anything to do with TBE and won't test for it.

"Maybe they would say there was no point because there is no different treatment anyway.

"But we would encourage doctors to consider whether the cause of the illness might be TBE and ask questions."

Prof Kunze said that holidaymakers who are planning on spending time in rural and forest areas or taking part in outdoor activities should consider being vaccinated against TBE before they visit countries where the disease is prevalent.

Hazel Middleton, a travel health adviser at the MASTA Travel Clinic in Edinburgh, echoed the warning.

"All the evidence shows that the prevalence of TBE and other tick-borne disease is on the increase in some countries," she said.

"So people heading for places where they will be at risk need to be aware of the potential dangers and take adequate precautions."

&#149 Tick Alert Week, which aims to raise awareness of diseases spread by ticks, including TBE and Lyme disease, runs 5-11 May.