The National Health Safety Agency (ANSES) publishes an alert on tick encephalitis. Indeed, since 2020, cases have been reported in France after consumption of raw milk products. A way of transmission hitherto never observed in France.
Thirty cases identified each year
This viral disease, originally transmitted by certain ticks, is increasingly worried by the health authorities. Indeed, the fairly rare cases tend to increase and extend, from a geographical point of view.
On average, around thirty cases are identified each year. With serious consequences: neurological symptoms, long -term sequelae, loss of autonomy … Faced with this observation, handles calls for increased vigilance. Both for consumers and farming professionals.
A mode of food transmission now recognized
5 years ago, an infection center was discovered in the department of Ain, in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, where the tick encephalitis virus was not even known. In total, 43 people were contaminated.
“”In 2020, a first focus of infections linked to the consumption of raw milk cheeses was identified, in a department where the circulation of the virus was not known. This is a transmission route hitherto not reported in France “ Explains the ANSES in its report of July 8, 2025.
How does the virus end up in milk? By a simple phenomenon: when an infected tick stings a goat or a cow, she can contaminate her milk. The latter, if it is consumed raw, becomes a potential vector of the disease.
According to health authorities, products based on raw goat milk present a greater risk than those from cow or sheep milk.
“”The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region is the most concerned with this risk, due to the proven circulation of the virus and the high number of breeding of goats with frequent access to the exterior“Specifies the agency.
A geographic expansion deemed worrying
ANSES is not only worried about raw milk: it also observes a disturbing progression of the virus on the territory, beyond the historically affected areas.
“”For several years, there has been a disturbing manner a migration of ticks that arrive in eastern France: in Alsace, Lorraine, Haute-Savoie, in Ain … This virus therefore arouses concern and right, because it spreads and requires increased monitoring “ said Bertrand Pasquet, president of the Chronilyme association, interviewed for a previous article on the subject.
In addition, certain population categories are particularly vulnerable. ANSES in particular identifies breeders and forestry workers, who have “13 times more risk of being infected than the general population“. For these people, vaccination is recommended, although little known to the general public.
What to do concretely, to limit risks?
In addition to advice well known to protect yourself from tick stings (covering clothes, inspection after walks, etc.), handles calls for strengthening monitoring in farms. The agency offers several practical measures, in particular:
- Limit access to goats to wooded areas, installing fences around pastures;
- Set up a rotation of pastures to reduce exposure to ticks;
- Pasteurize milk in the event of an alert or detection of the virus, especially if a human case is identified in the area.
“”These actions can be supplemented by pasteurization of milk in emergency situations“Insists the agency, recalling that this method makes it possible to effectively eliminate the virus.
Because if tick encephalitis is still marginal in France, its consequences can be heavy.
“”10 to 30 % of infected people develop symptoms, generally pseudo-grapple. Among symptomatic people, 20 to 40 % have meningitis type neurological signs, which can cause long -term consequences and loss of autonomy“Summarizes Elsa Quillery, co-coordinator of expertise.
Finally, the economic impact of this disease is far from negligible: the annual cost is estimated at 3 million euros, between care, work stoppages and loss of quality of life.
How to avoid tick bites?
Ticks, although small, are difficult to detect. To protect yourself during walks in the forest, in the fields or by gardening, here are some recommendations:
- Wear covering clothes, with long sleeves and pants covering the legs, a hat, and enter the bottom of the pants in the socks;
- Stay on the trails and avoid brushy areas, ferns and high herbs;
- Apply repellents to the skin.
After an outing in the forest or a gardening session, it is advisable to:
- Carefully inspect the whole body;
- In the event of a bit, quickly remove the tick (s) using a tank pump or, failing that, a fine clamp.