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HEALTH

TBE cases fall in Styria with mild Spring

As we approach peak tick season scientists in Styria say that although the tick population in the province has increased after the recent damp and warm weather, the number of cases of tick borne encephalitis (TBE) infections has decreased.

TBE cases fall in Styria with mild Spring
A tick. File photo: APA

TBE was previously considered to be endemic in Styria but experts believe that due to climate change, and warmer, milder Springs this is no longer the case. Last year there were only 16 cases in the province, with twice as many cases in Upper Austria and Tyrol.

TBE is a viral disease that attacks the nervous system and can result in serious meningitis, encephalitis (brain inflammation), and in some cases death.

Ticks usually contract the virus after biting hedgehogs or mice but virologist Egon Marth says that due to a warm spring ticks developed earlier than usual, at a point when the virus hadn’t yet infected mice.

Marth added that for the last 15 years studies have noted that the virus has tended to be more predominant in the cooler, north-west regions of Europe.

He believes that another factor in the downward trend of TBE infections in Styria is the fact that 85 per cent of people in the province get vaccinated. A national immunisation campaign against TBE has existed in Austria since 1980.

To protect yourself from ticks it is recommended to use an effective insect repellent, avoid wearing shorts in rural and wooded areas, and tuck trousers into socks.

You should always inspect your skin for ticks after hiking and remove any as soon as possible with fine-tipped tweezers. In a steady motion, pull the tick's body away directly outwards without jerking or twisting. In the case of persistent redness, swelling, or pain consult a doctor. 

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HEALTH

What do you do in Austria if your nearest pharmacy is closed?

It's nine pm in Austria, and you're out of painkillers or decongestants. You're desperate for pain relief but your local Apotheke is shut, so what do you do?

What do you do in Austria if your nearest pharmacy is closed?

In Austria Apotheken (pharmacies) are the only places in which you can purchase painkillers and decongestants. Ostensibly in the public interest, but it’s also a lucrative moneymaker for the businesses. This monopoly on the sale of certain pharmaceutical drugs is a subject frequently debated and is of much consternation for overseas arrivals. 

READ MORE: Why are painkillers only sold in pharmacies in Austria?

However, many Apotheken can close as early as six pm, especially if you live outside a major city centre. If you’re suffering from a cold or a nasty headache, it can seem like an eternity until they reopen. 

Fortunately, there is relief. Emergency situations will always arise, and pharmacies often band together to provide service at nights, over weekends and on public holidays.

This is done on a rota basis, so your local Apotheke may not be open, there will be a Apotheken-Notdienst (Emergency-service pharmacy) within a 5 – 10km range. 

Often, Apotheken will have a sign or screen out the front that gives the address and opening times for Apotheken-Notdienst in the area, updated frequently.

A number of websites also exist that can give you the location of operating Apotheken-Notdienst across Austria, such as APO24.at. Entering your PLZ (or postcode) will list the nearest to you. 

However, if they don’t have online access, dialling 1455 while put you in touch with a service who can either direct you to the Apotheken-Notdienst on duty, or help you in getting you further assistance. 

If all else fails, your local hospital should have a Notfall-Praxis – ostensibly an emergency doctor service out of hours. If you’re prepared to wait, you will be able to see a doctor, and they can either dispense medication, or direct you to the hospital pharmacy with a prescription. 

Before you go, it’s worth brushing up on your vocabulary. The Local has developed a list of vocabulary and phrases that you can use to describe your symptoms to pharmacists and doctors, to help them prescribe the best possible medication.

READ MORE: Colds and flu: What to say if you get sick in Austria

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