I was in a coma for 42 days after a tick bite on a holiday to Greece

Victoria Stellas, an Anglesey resident, endured a 42-day coma following a tick bite sustained during a 2019 holiday in Greece. The incident has left her with lasting memory loss and seizures, necessitating 18 daily tablets. She reports losing two jobs due to her symptoms and is currently seeking new employment.

While on the Greek island of Syros, Ms. Stellas experienced flu-like symptoms. Upon returning home, she began having nocturnal seizures. After hospital visits where her condition remained undiagnosed, an MRI scan led to her being airlifted to Liverpool's Walton Centre. There, she was placed in an induced coma for 42 days and subsequently diagnosed with tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), a potentially fatal inflammation of the brain.

The 51-year-old mother of one stated, "It's changed my life completely. Apart from the work I don't go out as much." She suspects the bite occurred at her brother-in-law's home, which houses goats known to attract ticks.

Recalling the initial period, Ms. Stellas said, "I just kept on having seizures and no-one knew what was wrong. It was an unusual infection, and they didn't have the experts I think to diagnose this." She spent approximately six months in hospital and undergoing treatment. "Sometimes I just keep quiet. I was outgoing before," she added.

Her symptoms led to the loss of her jobs at a pub and as a teaching assistant at a school for children with special educational needs and disabilities. "Tell me a job that doesn't require memory? Everything you do in life requires a memory. Shopping, working, travelling," she remarked. She explained that upon attempting to return to her teaching assistant role, she "couldn't remember the names of children in different classes and staff. I would recognise everyone but not the names and that's still a problem to this day."

According to the NHS, TBE is a viral infection transmitted by tick bites in Europe, Russia, and parts of China and Japan. The NHS indicates a very low risk of contracting TBE in the UK, and a similarly low risk of severe illness if bitten. Symptoms, appearing about a week after a bite, can include tiredness, headache, and signs of infection such as seizures, confusion, slurred speech, or loss of movement in parts of the body. The NHS advises individuals planning activities in high-risk countries to get vaccinated against TBE at least one month prior to travel.

Public Health Wales (PHW) confirmed no TBE diagnoses from tick bites in Wales, though "a small number of locally acquired cases" have been identified in England and Scotland since 2019.

Ms. Stellas, who was born and raised in Greece before moving to Wales at age five, visits Greece annually but was unaware of the TBE vaccine. She now aims to raise awareness about the infection, urging travelers to at-risk areas, especially those spending time in wooded environments or near animals, to get vaccinated. She shares her story with students at Bangor University once a year.

Currently, Ms. Stellas takes between 15 and 18 tablets daily and has developed strategies to manage everyday tasks due to memory issues. Her nocturnal seizures are "not as regular as they were," and she now sleeps with her mother. "I'm lucky to have my family and my friends who've supported me throughout the years," she expressed.

Victoria's mother, Liz Stellas, commented, "You have to be very aware of things which seem harmless but they're not. Insect bites can cause profound change in your life. I don't think people are aware of it."

The TBE vaccine is not available through the NHS and must be obtained privately from specialized travel health clinics and pharmacies. PHW recommends wearing long-sleeved tops and trousers, using DEET-containing insect repellent on exposed skin, and staying on marked paths in areas where ticks may be present. After outdoor activities, it's crucial to check oneself, clothing, and pets for ticks and remove any attached ticks promptly using a tick removal tool or fine-tipped tweezers, as this reduces the risk of tick-borne infections.

Professor Benedict Michael, a University of Liverpool specialist in zoonotic infection, noted a global increase in TBE cases over the past 30 years, with a "very small number" in the UK. While cases are more prevalent in Europe and East Asia, he stated it's "too broad" to pinpoint specific hotspots. He added that cases like Ms. Stellas's "are fortunately relatively rare."

Professor Michael explained, "Overall, you're talking about 3% of people will get a brain infection complication and 97% of people will have either no symptoms or have this relatively short-lived, albeit unpleasant, severe flu-like phase." He emphasized the importance of the condition due to a lack of effective antiviral treatments. "So when someone's developed encephalitis, like in Victoria's case, the mainstay of management is making sure they're safe and preventing seizures and those sort of complications. Its particularly important as it's vaccine-preventable. That's why we think it's important to raise awareness."