A milestone in infectious disease research: PROVAXS members Prof. Eric Cox and Dr. Bert Devriendt, together with colleagues, have published the first confirmed detection of TBEV in Ixodes ricinus ticks in Belgium, highlighting a critical development in our understanding of local tick-borne risks.

🔬 What they found:
Using RT-qPCR and nanopore sequencing, researchers analyzed 350 ticks collected at the exact site where a Belgian patient contracted TBE in 2020. TBEV was detected in nymphs and adult ticks, confirming local transmission risk.

🧬 Interestingly, the detected virus is genetically closer to a Finnish strain than to strains from neighboring countries—offering new insights into virus introduction and spread.

📣 Key takeaway: TBE can be acquired from tick bites within Belgium. This underscores the need for increased awareness among healthcare professionals and better monitoring of tick-borne threats.

👇 Read the full study here below