Read in this forum that it is recommended (by several forum contributors) to get a vaccine for the Tick Encephalitis if you are hiking in Slovenia. We plan to hike the Vintgar Gorge this coming September (we are in our late 60's). This is the only major hiking we plan to do other than walk around Bled, Piran, Skojan Caves. Are the ticks really a major problem in these areas? Thanks for any advice.
Posted by
Washington, DC USA
629 posts
My memory of Vintgar Gorge was that there was a wooden walkway all or most of the way so I was never walking in tall grass. It is possible that there are more rustice paths that I don't remember or didn't take.
Posted by
1770 posts
You could always use tick repellant. If it's a problem there will be stores that sell it. Also, wear light colored clothes, tuck your pants into your socks, button long sleeve shirts at the cuff and do a tick check as soon as possible.
Posted by
St Paul
165 posts
We are similar in age and were in Slovenia last September. We walked Vintgar Gorge, around Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj, plus 3-4 other hikes lasting 1-3 hours into wooded areas, almost entirely with trails. We did not hike through tall grass. We did not get a vaccine or use tick repellent. We loved Slovenia! Enjoy your trip!
Posted by
Vienna, Austria
5726 posts
Absolutely unnecessary to get a tick vaccine for the Vintgar Gorge. The entire time you are on wooden platforms next to the river. You only need the shots (it is a series, not just one shot) if you are planning to walk in heavy woods, in tall grasses. Notably, only a very very small percentage of ticks carry this disease. I was just in that area and had a tick on me for two days. I'm fine.
Posted by
Citizen of the World
2986 posts
People get ticks mostly while walking through high grass fields and through wooded forests. It basically happens when the vegetation brushes up against you and a tick transfers to your leg, arm, neck or whatever part of you that brushed up against the vegetation. So, longsleeve shirts, long pants and socks & shoes go a long way to prevent them from being able to attach themselves to you.
When you’re hiking on established boardwalk trails or broad pathways as Slovenia has— it’s really unlikely that you’ll even get a tick.
Repellant adds protection.
After your hike, simply take a moment or two to look over your skin and scalp sufaces.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Thank you all for your responses!
Posted by
Florida, United States
10 posts
I just got my first in the series of TBE vaccinations. We are going to Slovenia in September and are planning to do a lot of hiking. I asked our primary care doc and was told better to be safe than sorry. Slim chance of getting bitten by one of those nasty ticks but if you do it's not a good situation. My insurance covered it.