Overview
- Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus is spread through the bite of an infected tick. It can be spread through eating or drinking raw milk or cheese from infected animals.
- The ticks that spread TBE are found in or near forests in parts of Europe and Asia.
- TBE is not found in the United States.
- TBE may cause no symptoms at all, or it can cause fever, headache, vomiting and weakness. It may cause inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) or the membranes that surround the brain (meningitis).
- There is no specific medication to treat TBE.
- International Travel: A vaccine is available and may be helpful to travelers to parts of western Europe and Asia where TBE occurs, especially if they plan to spend a lot of time hiking or staying outdoors where ticks are likely to bite. A travel health specialist can help decide when TBE vaccine is recommended.
Tick-borne Encephalitis Vaccine Schedule
A TBE vaccine is available in the United States for people age 1 year or older who need protection from TBE because of their travel plans and activities. The vaccine is given as a 3-dose series over 6 months. If the risk of TBE is ongoing, a booster dose may be given 3 years after completing the initial series. The vaccine may be given during pregnancy if needed. It is made from killed (inactivated) virus and cannot cause TBE illness.
Partner Resources
General
Find information about the causes and spread of TBE and how to prevent it.
Learn about TBE and its vaccine from the Vaccine Education Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Travel
Access the TBE chapter of the CDC Yellow Book for travel-associated infections and diseases. This resource is intended for healthcare professionals, but its information is also useful for travelers.
Easy-to-read infographic of the risk factors for TBE travelers should consider.
Find health and vaccine information by selecting any country.
Search for public health and private clinics that administer travel vaccines. This list may not include all locations that provide travel vaccines.
Facilities that administer yellow fever vaccine are authorized to issue an International Certificate of Vaccination (the “yellow card”) to meet requirements for proof of yellow fever vaccination. These facilities typically offer a wide range of vaccines travelers may need.
This online global clinic directory is a database of International Society of Travel Medicine members and their global travel clinics. Users can search by location and by services offered.