Question & Answers - 7. Question

Question:

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Dear Sir or Madam,
I was bitten by a tick on 16th August 2008 in Svartadalen, Västmanland, Sweden. I am concerned about being infected with TBE or Lyme Disease. Please can you tell me if Lyme Disease or TBE is prevalent in this area and if so what action I should take? So far I haven't experienced any noticeable symptoms.
Many thanks!
W.

Answer:

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Dear W.,
in Central Sweden there is a low risk for TBE and a risk for Lyme Borreliosis. When you are unvaccinated against TBE you can do nothing. You must wait for some weeks. The incubation time for TBE is (4) 7 - 14 (28) days. In the next 8 weeks, please visit daily the place of the tick bite and go to an doctor in the case of development of an so called erythema migrans. In the case, you develope fever in the next weeks without such an erythema migrans, please go also to an doctor.

Best regards,
Jochen Süss

Prof. Dr. Jochen Süss
Federal Research Institute of Animal Health
Naumburger Strasse 96 a
07743 Jena

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