This Diploma Thesis focuses on the use of key Czech media in the prevention of diseases, on an analysis of their levels and on the possible impact on recipients. It also investigates to what extent are topics interconnected with commercial communication and how commercial background determines such communication. In the theoretical part of this Diploma Thesis I attempted to give a brief and comprehensible outline of the issues conserning the prevention of diseases and the mass media according to the most up-to-date information. The main aim of the practical part of this Diploma Thesis was to map the frequency by which health-related preventive material is published in key Czech media. A further aim of this Diploma Thesis was to discover the main topics that key media deal with. The quantitative data collection method and media analyses were applied in this part of the Diploma Thesis. It ensues from my research that key media mostly concentrate on topics conserning the prevention of malignant tumors. Advertisements that are concerned with the prevention of selected illnesses usually refer food supplements and curative preparations. The results of this Diploma Thesis further indicate that prevention of diseases mass media is not neglected; nonetheless, I am the opinion that the frequency of publication could be higher. On the contrary, there could be less commercial communication that goes along with material that focuses on health-related prevention issues. I am convinced that the prevention of diseases with use of the news media is the basic step to a healthy population without which we cannot envisage our future. The result of this Diploma Thesis can be applied in the creation of preventive programmes and information strategies regarding disease prevention.

Esta tese abrange questões relacionadas ao espaço, ao controle e prevenção de doenças e ao fato destes serem artefatos culturais produtores de saber-­‐poder-­‐subjetivação mundial. Mais precisamente, analisa as maneiras pelas quais o espaço tem sido referido e produzido por meio dos preceitos da saúde, associados ao controle e à prevenção de doenças infectocontagiosas, que são elaborados e divulgados pela Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS). Para isso, foram aproximados conhecimentos dos campos da Educação, da Geografia e da Saúde, sob a perspectiva dos Estudos Culturais, com o objetivo de problematizar as recomendações e as práticas preconizadas pela agência. O conjunto de materiais analisados é composto por diversas publicações oficiais da OMS – 11 principais e 35 complementares – acerca da “segurança da vida”, associada à saúde, em escala global. O trabalho está divido em sete capítulos nos quais são apresentadas questões que motivaram sua elaboração, descrições e discussões que envolvem as estratégias metodológicas que conduziram a pesquisa, bem como, apontamentos conceituais e analíticos. O argumento central refere que os discursos da saúde disparam, em função de seu caráter educativo, transformações culturais significativas que envolvem diversas dinâmicas associadas à produção do espaço. Partindo disso, são destacadas diferentes maneiras pelas quais o espaço tem sido praticado e transformado pelas orientações e ações promovidas pela OMS. Entre estas transformações estão aquelas que, atualmente, consideram a mobilidade de pessoas e doenças no espaço e, portanto, que passam a fazer emergir políticas de imunização. Estas políticas oportunizam o entendimento de que o corpo e o espaço são dimensões complementares no que se refere ao controle e prevenção de doenças. Diante disso, surge a necessidade de novas abordagens educacionais, sobretudo, aquelas direcionadas à formação de profissionais que atuam nos campos da Educação, da Geografia e da Saúde. / This thesis covers issues related to space, control and prevention of diseases and the fact that these producers are cultural artifacts of power ‐ knowledge ‐ subjectivity world. More precisely it examines the ways in which space has been referred to and produced by the precepts of health, associated with the control and prevention of infectious diseases which are developed and disseminated by the World Health Organization (WHO). For that, approximate knowledge of the fields of Education, Geography and Health from the perspective of cultural studies, aiming to discuss the recommendations and practices recommended by the agency. The set of the material analyzed consists of various official WHO publications ‐ 11 main and 35 additional ‐ about the " safety of life " associated with health on a global scale. The work is divided into seven chapters where issues that motivated its development , descriptions and discussions involving the methodological strategies that conducted the research, as well as conceptual and analytical notes are presented. The central argument states that healthcare discourses create, due to their educational caracteristic, significant cultural transformations that involve various dynamics associated with the production of space . It also highlight various ways in which space has been practiced and transformed by the guidelines and actions promoted by the WHO. Among these changes are those that currently consider the mobility of people and diseases in space and, therefore, become emerging immunization policies. These policies nurture the understanding that the body and the space dimensions are complementary with respect to the control and prevention of disease. Therefore, the need arises for new educational approaches, especially those aimed at training professionals working in the fields of Education, Geography and Health.

This thesis deals with problems of healthy lifestyle in connection with prevention of civilization diseases. In the theoretical part of this work there are briefly described the most significant aspects of lifestyle which have an influence on human health. Then there is here mentioned prevention and some of the most common civilization diseases. Healthy lifestyle presents set of routines and behavior that according to contemporary scientific knowledge supports our health. We can imagine it for example like a style where most of components, which it is consisted of, have positive orientation and where physical activity, rational nutrition, no-smoking, reasonable drinking of alcohol and good human relations are on the first place. The aim of this work is detection of a lifestyle and following comparison of the results in a group of women and men and comparison of a lifestyle of people living in a town and in the country. Experimental population was formed by people living in a district of Jindrichuv Hradec aged 41- 55. First hypothesis - Among men will be more often detected negative factor of smoking {--} was confirmed. In research I found out that in the surveyed sample of people living in a district of Jindrichuv Hradec there regularly smoke 37,1 % of men and 22,2 % of women, which corresponds with the results of the study of HELEN which was this hypothesis built on. Second hypothesis - women will evaluate their health like worse {--} wasn't confirmed. The question ascertaining a subjective feeling of health was supposed to verify whether the findings of the study of the health condition and lifestyle of the inhabitants in the Czech Republic. 43,6 % of women and 35,4 % of men valued their lifestyle in a positive way, 14,6 % of women and 29,1 % of men in a negative way. Third hypothesis {--} People living in a town will more often feel stress in comparison with people living in the country {--} was confirmed. To a question {\clqq}Do you suffer from stress?" 90,4 % of people living in a town and 77 % of people living in the country answered positively.

Esta tese abrange questões relacionadas ao espaço, ao controle e prevenção de doenças e ao fato destes serem artefatos culturais produtores de saber-­‐poder-­‐subjetivação mundial. Mais precisamente, analisa as maneiras pelas quais o espaço tem sido referido e produzido por meio dos preceitos da saúde, associados ao controle e à prevenção de doenças infectocontagiosas, que são elaborados e divulgados pela Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS). Para isso, foram aproximados conhecimentos dos campos da Educação, da Geografia e da Saúde, sob a perspectiva dos Estudos Culturais, com o objetivo de problematizar as recomendações e as práticas preconizadas pela agência. O conjunto de materiais analisados é composto por diversas publicações oficiais da OMS – 11 principais e 35 complementares – acerca da “segurança da vida”, associada à saúde, em escala global. O trabalho está divido em sete capítulos nos quais são apresentadas questões que motivaram sua elaboração, descrições e discussões que envolvem as estratégias metodológicas que conduziram a pesquisa, bem como, apontamentos conceituais e analíticos. O argumento central refere que os discursos da saúde disparam, em função de seu caráter educativo, transformações culturais significativas que envolvem diversas dinâmicas associadas à produção do espaço. Partindo disso, são destacadas diferentes maneiras pelas quais o espaço tem sido praticado e transformado pelas orientações e ações promovidas pela OMS. Entre estas transformações estão aquelas que, atualmente, consideram a mobilidade de pessoas e doenças no espaço e, portanto, que passam a fazer emergir políticas de imunização. Estas políticas oportunizam o entendimento de que o corpo e o espaço são dimensões complementares no que se refere ao controle e prevenção de doenças. Diante disso, surge a necessidade de novas abordagens educacionais, sobretudo, aquelas direcionadas à formação de profissionais que atuam nos campos da Educação, da Geografia e da Saúde. / This thesis covers issues related to space, control and prevention of diseases and the fact that these producers are cultural artifacts of power ‐ knowledge ‐ subjectivity world. More precisely it examines the ways in which space has been referred to and produced by the precepts of health, associated with the control and prevention of infectious diseases which are developed and disseminated by the World Health Organization (WHO). For that, approximate knowledge of the fields of Education, Geography and Health from the perspective of cultural studies, aiming to discuss the recommendations and practices recommended by the agency. The set of the material analyzed consists of various official WHO publications ‐ 11 main and 35 additional ‐ about the " safety of life " associated with health on a global scale. The work is divided into seven chapters where issues that motivated its development , descriptions and discussions involving the methodological strategies that conducted the research, as well as conceptual and analytical notes are presented. The central argument states that healthcare discourses create, due to their educational caracteristic, significant cultural transformations that involve various dynamics associated with the production of space . It also highlight various ways in which space has been practiced and transformed by the guidelines and actions promoted by the WHO. Among these changes are those that currently consider the mobility of people and diseases in space and, therefore, become emerging immunization policies. These policies nurture the understanding that the body and the space dimensions are complementary with respect to the control and prevention of disease. Therefore, the need arises for new educational approaches, especially those aimed at training professionals working in the fields of Education, Geography and Health.

Esta tese abrange questões relacionadas ao espaço, ao controle e prevenção de doenças e ao fato destes serem artefatos culturais produtores de saber-­‐poder-­‐subjetivação mundial. Mais precisamente, analisa as maneiras pelas quais o espaço tem sido referido e produzido por meio dos preceitos da saúde, associados ao controle e à prevenção de doenças infectocontagiosas, que são elaborados e divulgados pela Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS). Para isso, foram aproximados conhecimentos dos campos da Educação, da Geografia e da Saúde, sob a perspectiva dos Estudos Culturais, com o objetivo de problematizar as recomendações e as práticas preconizadas pela agência. O conjunto de materiais analisados é composto por diversas publicações oficiais da OMS – 11 principais e 35 complementares – acerca da “segurança da vida”, associada à saúde, em escala global. O trabalho está divido em sete capítulos nos quais são apresentadas questões que motivaram sua elaboração, descrições e discussões que envolvem as estratégias metodológicas que conduziram a pesquisa, bem como, apontamentos conceituais e analíticos. O argumento central refere que os discursos da saúde disparam, em função de seu caráter educativo, transformações culturais significativas que envolvem diversas dinâmicas associadas à produção do espaço. Partindo disso, são destacadas diferentes maneiras pelas quais o espaço tem sido praticado e transformado pelas orientações e ações promovidas pela OMS. Entre estas transformações estão aquelas que, atualmente, consideram a mobilidade de pessoas e doenças no espaço e, portanto, que passam a fazer emergir políticas de imunização. Estas políticas oportunizam o entendimento de que o corpo e o espaço são dimensões complementares no que se refere ao controle e prevenção de doenças. Diante disso, surge a necessidade de novas abordagens educacionais, sobretudo, aquelas direcionadas à formação de profissionais que atuam nos campos da Educação, da Geografia e da Saúde. / This thesis covers issues related to space, control and prevention of diseases and the fact that these producers are cultural artifacts of power ‐ knowledge ‐ subjectivity world. More precisely it examines the ways in which space has been referred to and produced by the precepts of health, associated with the control and prevention of infectious diseases which are developed and disseminated by the World Health Organization (WHO). For that, approximate knowledge of the fields of Education, Geography and Health from the perspective of cultural studies, aiming to discuss the recommendations and practices recommended by the agency. The set of the material analyzed consists of various official WHO publications ‐ 11 main and 35 additional ‐ about the " safety of life " associated with health on a global scale. The work is divided into seven chapters where issues that motivated its development , descriptions and discussions involving the methodological strategies that conducted the research, as well as conceptual and analytical notes are presented. The central argument states that healthcare discourses create, due to their educational caracteristic, significant cultural transformations that involve various dynamics associated with the production of space . It also highlight various ways in which space has been practiced and transformed by the guidelines and actions promoted by the WHO. Among these changes are those that currently consider the mobility of people and diseases in space and, therefore, become emerging immunization policies. These policies nurture the understanding that the body and the space dimensions are complementary with respect to the control and prevention of disease. Therefore, the need arises for new educational approaches, especially those aimed at training professionals working in the fields of Education, Geography and Health.

Thesis (MSc (Microbiology))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / Mastitis is considered to be the most costly disease affecting the dairy industry. Management strategies involve the extensive use of antibiotics to treat and prevent this disease. Prophylactic dosages of antibiotics used in mastitis control programmes could select for strains with resistance to antibiotics. In addition, a strong drive towards reducing antibiotic residues in animal food products has lead to research in finding alternative antimicrobial agents. Streptococcus macedonicus ST91KM, isolated from bulgarian goat yoghurt, produces the bacteriocin macedocin ST91KM with a narrow spectrum of activity against Grampositive bacteria. These include mastitis pathogens Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus dysgalactiae, Streptococcus uberis, Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis as well as Lactobacillus sakei and Micrococcus varians. Macedocin ST91KM is, according to tricine-SDS PAGE, between 2.0 and 2.5 kDa in size. The activity of macedocin ST91KM remained unchanged after 2 h of incubation at pH 2.0 to 10.0 and 100 min at 100 °C. The peptide was inactivated after 20 min at 121 °C and when treated with pronase, pepsin and trypsin. Treatment with α-amylase had no effect on activity, suggesting that the mode of action does not depend on glycosylation. Precipitation with 60 % saturated ammonium sulphate, followed by Sep-Pak C18 separation recovered 43 % of macedocin ST91KM. Amplification of the genome of strain ST91KM with primers designed from the sequence of the macedocin prescursor gene (mcdA) produced two fragments (approximately 375 and 220 bp) instead of one fragment of 150 bp recorded for macedocin produced by S. macedonicus ACA-DC 198. Strain ACA-DC 198 was not available. However, the DNA fragment amplified from strain LMG 18488 (ACA-DC 206), genetically closely related to strain ACADC 198, revealed 99 % homology to the mcdA of S. macedonicus ACA-DC 198 (accession number DQ835394). Macedocin ST91KM may thus be a related bacteriocin described for S. macedonicus. The peptide adsorbed equally well (66 %) to L. sakei LMG13558 and insensitive cells, e.g. Enterococcus faecalis BFE 1071 and FAIR E92, and Streptococcus caprinus ATCC 700066. Optimal adsorption of macedocin ST91KM was recorded at 37 °C and 45 °C and at pH of 8 - 10. Addition of solvents decreased adsorption by 50%, suggesting that the receptors to which the bacteriocin binds have lipid moieties. The addition of MgCl2, KI and Na2CO3 completely prevented adsorption of macedocin ST91KM to the target cells, possibly due to competitive ion adsorption on the bacterial cell surface. The peptide has a bacteriocidal mode of action, resulting in lysis and the release of DNA and β-galactosidase. Atomic force microscopy of sensitive cells treated with macedocin ST91KM have shown deformation of the cell structure and developing of irregular surface areas. Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns were evaluated against eighteen mastitis pathogens. All isolates tested were resistant to methicillin and oxacillin, but had minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) falling in the intermediate and susceptible range against erythromycin. S. agalactiae and S. epidermidis had the highest sensitivity to macedocin ST91KM. A teat seal preparation containing macedocin ST91KM effectively released bacteriocin inhibiting the growth of the bacterial pathogen. Macedocin ST91KM could form the basis for an alternative dry cow therapy to prevent mastitis infections in dairy cows, as it is effective against pathogens that display resistance to conventional antibiotic therapy.

Submitted by Cássia Santos (cassia.bcufg@gmail.com) on 2015-02-04T10:27:41Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese - Joana Darc Ximenes Alcanfor - 2014.pdf: 3109940 bytes, checksum: f705062c1928219b845c6d54e68654a6 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2015-02-05T14:17:45Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese - Joana Darc Ximenes Alcanfor - 2014.pdf: 3109940 bytes, checksum: f705062c1928219b845c6d54e68654a6 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-02-05T14:17:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese - Joana Darc Ximenes Alcanfor - 2014.pdf: 3109940 bytes, checksum: f705062c1928219b845c6d54e68654a6 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-03-31 / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Goiás - FAPEG / Introduction: The prevention of chronic diseases of the elderly population characteristics involves the control of modifiable risk factors through changes in lifestyle inadequate.Objective: Analyze the Elderly Population Profile of the municipality of Goiânia, including the relationship between glucose, lipid profile components and style of life. Methods: The target population consisted of 220 elderly, noninstitutionalized who provided data on weight, height, lifestyle, and self-reported diseases, which responded to the SF-36 questionnaire and whose blood was collected to perform fasting and lipid profile. Results: From the data analysis it was found that 61.36 % of the elderly (135/220) were female. Only 25.9 % (57 /220) reported the practice of at least one physical activity; 7.72 % (17 /220) were taking lipid-lowering. The median total cholesterol was 195.5 mg/ dL; HDL-cholesterol was 40 mg/dL and triglycerides of 145 mg/dL. The mean total cholesterol of 17 seniors who were taking lipid-lowering was 161.1 mg/dL, HDL-cholesterol of 42.4 mg/dL and triglycerides, 161.3 mg/dL. BMI was ≥ 30 to 12.2 % (27 /220) of the elderly, with a median concentration of triglycerides was 181 mg/dL, while for those with BMI<30 (n=184) the median was 144mg/dL (48.0 to 491.0 SD=79.8) (p > 0.05). The frequency of hyperglycemia was 13.60% (30/220) and 16.5% (36/220) had intermediate hyperglycemia. The ingestion of alcohol interfered with blood sugar of the elderly (p < 0.05). Obese and elderly had low physical activity self-reported diabetes more often than elderly males (p < 0.05). Regarding quality of life according to the SF-36 questionnaire self-reported diabetes influenced the social aspects of the elderly. Obese elderly had harmed the emotional aspects and older who smoked improperly presented complications for mental health (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The results indicate that both hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia in elderly reach levels that demonstrate the need for immediate intervention by means of promoting public health policies, the city studied, both in health care and in taking preventive measures aimed at comprehensive approach to risk factors for these diseases and thereby improving the quality of life. / Introdução: A prevenção das doenças crônicas não transmissíveis características da população idosa envolve o controle dos fatores de risco modificáveis através das mudanças nos hábitos de vida inadequados. Objetivo: Analisar o Perfil da População de Idosos do município de Goiânia, incluindo a relação entre glicemia, componentes do perfil lipídico e qualidade de vida. Métodos: A população alvo foi constituída de 220 idosos, não institucionalizados que forneceram dados de peso, altura, hábitos de vida e doenças autorreferidas, os quais responderam ao questionário de qualidade de vida SF-36 e cujo sangue foi coletado para realização de glicemia de jejum e perfil lipídico. Resultados: A partir da análise dos dados obteve-se que 61,4% dos idosos (135/220) eram do sexo feminino. Apenas 25,9% (57/220) relataram a prática de pelo menos uma atividade física; 7,7% (17/220) faziam uso de hipolipemiantes. A mediana do colesterol total foi de 195,5 mg/dL, do HDLcolesterol foi de 40 mg/dL e para os triglicérides de 145 mg/dL. A média do colesterol total dos 17 idosos que faziam uso de hipolipemiantes foi de 161,17 mg/dL, do HDL-colesterol de 42,4 mg/dL e do triglicérides, 161,3 mg/dL. O IMC foi ≥30 para 12,2% (27/220) dos idosos, sendo que a mediana da concentração dos triglicerídeos foi de 181mg/dL, enquanto que para aqueles com IMC <30 (n=184) a mediana foi de 144mg/dL (48,0-491,0; dp=79,8) (p>0,05). A frequência de hiperglicemia foi 13,6% (30/220) e 16,5% (36/220) apresentaram hiperglicemia intermediária. A ingestão de bebida alcoólica interferiu na taxa de glicemia dos idosos estudados (p<0,05). Idosas obesas e com baixa atividade física apresentavam diabetes autorreferida com mais frequência do que idosos do sexo masculino (p<0,05). Com relação à qualidade de vida segundo o questionário SF-36 o diabetes autorreferido influenciou os aspectos sociais dos idosos. Idosos obesos apresentaram os aspectos emocionais prejudicados e idosos que fumavam de forma abusiva apresentaram complicações para a saúde mental (p<0,05). Conclusões: Os resultados permitem concluir que tanto a hiperglicemia quanto as dislipidemias em idosos atingem patamares que demonstram a necessidade de intervenção imediata por meio de promoção de políticas de saúde pública, no município pesquisado, tanto na atenção em saúde como na tomada de medidas preventivas que visem à abordagem global dos fatores de risco para estas doenças e consequente melhoria da qualidade de vida.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-25T16:44:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Aldemir Evangelista da Cruz.pdf: 328390 bytes, checksum: af4df7d7d4e1cb9a8b3170bc5b8b0d31 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-09-16 / The aim of this research was to investigate why, in Brazil, the neglected diseases are still neglected, as well as the reasons for this persistence. Such diseases are malaria, tuberculosis, Chagas disease, lepra, dengue and Leisshimaniosis/ kalazar. Through the literature, it was possible to verify that the persistence of those diseases occurs because of a sequence of flaws in the public and private health system. The development of science and investments is insufficient or even inexistent concerning this. When there is medicine or when there are vaccines for treatment, their prices are extremely high for a great part of the population living in developing countries. Moreover, public services for preventing such diseases and the medicine distribution management are inefficient. The neglected diseases do not call much attention from global pharmaceutical companies; furthermore, developed and developing countries governments do not invest a lot in prevention and treatment of these diseases. Therefore, focusing on medicine demands and vaccines for treatment of the neglected diseases could be a very profitable market for the national pharmaceutical industry. When taking into account the difficulties for research and the volume of money needed for the production of such treatment medicines, it is clear that the partnership between governments and private companies might be a possible solution for this problem / O objetivo desta pesquisa é investigar o motivo pelo qual, no Brasil, as doenças negligenciadas persistem como tal, quais as causas da persistência da negligência, com permissão para a redundância da expressão. As doenças negligenciadas são malária, tuberculose, doença de Chagas, hanseníase, dengue e leishmaniose. A literatura examinada mostra que a persistência dessas doenças se dá pela sucessão de deficiências do sistema de saúde público e privado. A produção de ciência e investimentos são insuficientes ou mesmo inexistentes. Quando o medicamento ou vacinas existem, os preços são proibitivos para maioria das populações residentes nos países em desenvolvimento. Os serviços públicos para a prevenção das doenças e a gestão da distribuição dos medicamentos são inadequados. As doenças negligenciadas despertam pouco interesse por parte das empresas farmacêuticas mundiais, os governos dos países desenvolvidos e em desenvolvimento também pouco investem na prevenção e tratamento dessas doenças. Nesse quadro, o atendimento da demanda por medicamentos e vacinas para as doenças negligenciadas pode ser um mercado significativo para a indústria farmacêutica nacional. Ao se considerar as dificuldades de pesquisa e o volume de dinheiro necessários para a produção desses bens, entende-se que as parcerias entre governos e indústrias privadas fazem parte do quadro de soluções para o problema

This study used Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to investigate the experiences of African immigrant mothers living in the UK with a child diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Six mothers took part in one-off semi-structured interviews. The results indicated five themes: caring for a child we didn’t expect, the pain of stigma and rejection, making sense of our child’s difficulties and diagnosis, negotiating conflicting belief systems and faith as “key”. Many aspects of the mothers’ experiences appear related to their position as immigrants from cultures with very different belief systems regarding child development and disability. Stigma, blame and social isolation appeared to compound the difficulties they experienced. Conflicts between African cultural beliefs and a western, medical understanding of ASD, appeared to create a feeling of cognitive dissonance for the mothers. The strategies they used to negotiate this appear to map onto Berry’s (2005) acculturation strategies, suggesting the experience of having a child with ASD impacts upon the acculturation process. Implications for clinical practice and policy are discussed, including the importance of raising awareness of ASD among immigrant communities, supporting parents to integrate conflicting belief systems and facilitating the development of peer-support groups within minority communities.

In Western Europe the incidence of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) has increased over the last 30 years, coupled with changes in distribution. Modifications in the TBE enzootic cycle, through a combination of changes in temperature, vertebrate abundance and habitat suitability may have increased the risk of TBE in recent years. In Switzerland, analysis using satellite-derived climate data demonstrated that the environment of areas with TBE since the 1980s and areas that recently became endemic for TBE have become more similar between 2001 and 2009. This was coupled with an increase in April, May and June temperature, which could have affected the tick population and/or human exposure to ticks. Deer and boar abundance also changed in some cantons. In Germany, spatio-temporal modelling demonstrated the importance of temperature, vertebrate abundance and unemployment in the incidence and distribution of TBE between 2001 and 2009. Changes in TBE reporting, April, May and June temperature, vertebrate abundance and pesticide use may have contributed to increases in TBE in 1992 and 2001. Human exposure patterns, however, appear to be as important as the enzootic cycle in shaping the incidence of TBE, not only in determining the overall trend but also in interacting with the weekly, seasonal and yearly patterns of tick hazard to give the observed incidence. In Switzerland, in weeks with warm, sunny weather, human exposure to ticks is promoted and short-term increases in tick bites are seen. Human outdoor activity also shifts the seasonal pattern of tick bites, when compared with tick questing. There was no apparent increase in time spent in outdoor activities between the 1990s and 2000s in Italy, Germany and Austria, but survey data demonstrated that walking and hiking were already popular activities across Europe by the 1990s. The popularity of mushroom and berry foraging as a source of income in Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, coupled with the expense of vaccination, provide an inverse link between economic wellbeing and TBE risk. Correspondingly, in 2009, the economic recession was associated with an increase with TBE in these three countries.