[Occurrence of zoonoses in a natural reservoir in the West Bohemian Region. I. Tick-borne encephalitis--basic epidemiologic characteristics].

In 1960-1987 in the population of the West Bohemian region by means of various serological methods 621 cases of tick-borne encephalitis were diagnose. The disease was not present in the northern districts (Cheb, Sokolov, Karlovy Vary) and in the mountainous zone along the western frontier of the country. In other areas it is ubiquitary with the highest mean morbidity for the entire period - 5.1 cases per 100,000/year in the district Plzen-South. The morbidity of the population of the regional town was only slightly lower. The patients were most frequently from the age group of 20-29 years. In younger age groups there were twice as many men than women, in children and older age groups the differences were not significant. The incidence was highest in July and August. Only 5.5% cases had the character of an occupational infection. Tick-borne encephalitis is a leisure time disease in the West Bohemian region.