Endangering of the Liechtenstein population by the early-summer meningoencephalitis virus
Krech, T.; Aberham, C.; Risch, G.; Kunz, C.
Schweizerische Medizinische Wochenschrift 122(34): 1242-1244
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0036-7672 PMID: 1529311 Document Number: 388121
There have been a few severe cases of tick-borne encephalitis in Liechtenstein during the last 20 years. To form a better idea of the risk of infection and the potential benefit of vaccination, a total of 311 sera from different cohorts were investigated for antibodies to tick-borne encephalitis. The mean seroprevalence found was 3.6% and was not higher even in persons who were active in professional forestry. The antibodies measured derived in all groups mainly from previous vaccination and in only 2 cases (0.6%) from natural infection. It is concluded that the risk of TbE infection in Liechtenstein is very low. Therefore, a reduction in cases would probably be achieved only by mass vaccination.