Tick-borne encephalitis is a neuroinfection widely distributed in the Euro–Asia region. Primarily, the virus is transmitted by the bite of infected ticks. From 2000–2019, the total number of confirmed cases in Europe reported to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control was 51,519. The number of cases decreased in 2014 and 2015; however, since 2015, a growing number of cases have been observed, with the involvement of countries in which TBE has not been previously reported. The determinant factors for the spread of TBE are host population size, weather conditions, movement of hosts, and local regulations on the socioeconomic dynamics of the local and travelling people around the foci areas. The mean incidence rate of tick-borne encephalitis from 2000–2019 in Europe was 3.27, while the age-adjusted mean incidence rate was 2.19 per 100,000 population size. This review used several articles and data sources from the European Centre for Diseases Prevention and Control.

Disinfection is a key element in controlling infections. Fogging, also known as fumigation, is one of the most effective chemical disinfection methods. Peracetic acid (PAA) is a powerful oxidant with bactericidal and fungicidal properties. The aim of this study is to determine the type of bacteria and fungi present in educational institutions and whether disinfection by PAA fumigation in these institutions is also effective and useful, as demonstrated previously in healthcare centers. This study was carried out in five kindergartens and five primary schools in Bialystok, Poland. Three rooms have been selected in each of these educational institutions, and the disinfection was carried out in 30 rooms in total. Fogging with PAA was performed in selected rooms. Before and after disinfection, samples were collected from four surfaces: walls, tables, doors, and chair backs. Most frequently detected microorganisms in schools and kindergartens were Micrococcus luteus (M. luteus), Staphylococcus warneri (S. warneri), Paracoccus yeei (P. yeei), Staphylococcus hominis ssp. hominis (S. hominis), Kocuria rhizophila (K. rhizophila), Kocuria rosea (K. rosea). In addition, Staphylococcus haemolyticus (S. haemolyticus), Acinetobacter lwoffii (A. lwoffii), Kocuria kristinae (K. kristinae), Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis (L. lactis) were the most prevalent in kindergartens, whereas Kytococcus sedentarius (K. sedentarius) was the most prevalent in schools. Comparison of the bacterial flora of schools and kindergartens showed statistically significant differences in the prevalence of bacteria on different surfaces. A significant decrease in the number of colonies after disinfection was observed on all surfaces (p < 0.05). In addition, the calculated effectiveness of disinfection was 99.7% in kindergartens and 99.3% in schools. The results indicate that fogging of PAA is a highly effective method of surface disinfection in kindergartens and schools.

Pathogens carried by ticks pose a threat to both human and animal health across the world. Typically associated with rural landscapes, ticks appear to adapt well to life in urban recreational areas. Although Dermacentor reticulatus is commonly found across Europe, data on the prevalence of pathogens in this tick species, in an urban environment, are very limited. PCR was used to examine 368 D. reticulatus individuals collected in the Zwierzyniecki Forest Nature Reserve in Białystok, Poland. In total, 10.3% of ticks were infected, with Babesia spp. (9.2%), Anaplasma phagocytophilum (0.8%) and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (0.3%). Rickettsia spp., Bartonella spp., and Coxiella burnetii were not detected. Sequence analysis for Babesia-positive samples identified 79.4% of them as Babesia canis, 8.8% as Babesia microti, 5.9% as Babesia spp., 2.9% as Babesia venatorum, and 2.9% as Babesia vogeli. Results obtained in this study indicate that D. reticulatus ticks found within the urban premises of the study area are infected with at least three pathogens and therefore are an important factor in public health risk for tick-borne diseases.

Babesia and Theileria are tick-borne pathogens that cause infection in both humans and animals and are mainly transmitted through tick bites. The transmission of Babesia spp. between competent hosts is typically by Ixodidae ticks. ¹ Theileria species mainly affect domestic and wild animals. Theileria haneyi and Theileria equi affect horses in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. ² Ixodes ricinus (I. ricinus) and Dermacentor reticulatus (D. reticulatus) ticks are considered the most relevant tick species to transmit pathogens of Tick-Borne Diseases (TBD)s in Europe. Poland has an abundant number of ticks with a high prevalence of TBD in the north-eastern parts of the country. ³ This study detected and identified the strains of Babesia spp. and Theileria spp. in ticks collected from the Knyszyn forest landscape park (53°14′00″N 23°23′00″E) using a white flagging method in North-Eastern Poland.

Background: Understanding the clinical features of COVID‐19 and duration for resolution of symptoms is crucial for isolation of patients and tailoring public health messaging, interventions and policy. Therefore, this study aims to assess the median duration of COVID‐19 signs and symptoms’ resolution and explore its predictors among symptomatic COVID‐19 patients in Ethiopia.Methods: A hospital‐based prospective cohort study involving 124 COVID‐19 cases was conducted at Eka Kotebe General Hospital, COVID‐19 Isolation and Treatment Center. The study participants were all symptomatic COVID‐19 adult patients admitted to the hospital from 18 March to 20 August 2020. Physicians at the centre recorded the data using a log sheet. Cox proportional‐hazards regression model was conducted. Statistical significance was defined at P < 0.05.Results: A total of 124 symptomatic COVID‐19 patients with a mean age of 42 years (±17) were involved in the study. The median duration of symptom resolution of COVID‐19 was seven days with a minimum of two and a maximum of sixty‐eight days. Sex and body mass index (BMI) were statistically significant predictors of the symptom resolution. The hazard of having delayed sign or symptom resolution in males was 55% higher than in females (P = 0.039; CI: 0.22–0.96) and the hazard of delayed sign or symptom resolution in those with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m² was 35% higher than in those with BMI < 25 kg/m² (P = 0.041; CI: 0.44–0.98]).Conclusions: The median duration of COVID‐19 symptom resolution was seven days. Being male and/or having a BMI ≥ 25 kg/m² were predictors of a delayed sign or symptom resolution time. Therefore, it is important to consider proportion of males and those with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m² when preparing isolation and treatment centres. Males and individuals with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m² shall also be given priority when shielding from the COVID‐19.

Tick-borne encephalitis is a neuroinfection caused by the Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus. It is transmitted primarily by tick bite and rarely because of consuming raw milk. It has been discovered in the 1930s. The disease covers the Euro-Asia region which also known as the tick-borne encephalitis belt. It is prevalent in most parts of Europe. The top affected parts of Europe include Southern Germany, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, the Baltic countries, Slovenia, Poland, parts of Scandinavia, and European Russia. Since 2000, in Europe the total number of confirmed cases reported to the European CDC was 51,519. There were signs of decreasing number of cases in 2014 and 2015 however after 2015 a steadily increasing number of cases with involvement of countries which had no history of tick-borne encephalitis. Within Europe, from 1950 to 2006 ticks were prevalent between 600 to 2000 meters above sea level of altitude. The determinant factors for the spread of tick-borne encephalitis are host population size, weather, movement of hosts, altitude, and local regulations on socio-economic dynamics of the local and travelling people around the foci areas. The mean incidence rate of tick-borne encephalitis since 2000 to 2019 in Europe was 3.27 while the age adjusted mean incidence rate was 2.19 per 100,000 population size. The recent increase is mainly associated with human activity as a dominant factor since there are new foci areas with no significant climate change. This review used several articles and data sources from the European Center for Diseases Prevention and Control and Polish National Public Health Institute to examine the trend of TBE across Europe and in Poland in particular.