Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) cases have significantly increased in 2018, and areas of high risk continue to expand. The Swiss government is considering issuing a nationwide vaccination recommendation against the virus. Almost 230 people have already been infected with the virus – which in rare cases can be fatal – since the beginning of 2018, reported Swiss Public Television, SRF, on Tuesday. Cases have almost doubled compared to last year’s figures for the same time period. In addition, the at-risk areas, where the disease is endemic, are increasing, according to the Federal Office of Public Health. The Zurich area, all of north-eastern Switzerland and large parts of cantons Bern and Aarau are all affected by the virus. It makes little sense to recommend vaccination against the TBE virus only for certain at-risk regions, Christoph Berger, President of the Swiss Federal Commission for Vaccination, told SRF. “These areas are almost merging into each other. At some point, it ...
