Tick Bite Leads to 42-Day Coma and Memory Loss

Victoria Stellas, a 51-year-old woman who contracted tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) after being bitten by a tick while on vacation in Greece, spent 42 days in a coma. Her story has brought attention to warnings by experts about tick-borne illnesses.After being bitten by a tick in 2019 while on vacation in the Greek island of Siros, Stellas began experiencing severe health problems. Initially, she showed flu-like symptoms, but after returning to England, she started having nocturnal seizures. Following tests, Stellas was referred to a neurology center, where she was put into a controlled coma for 42 days.After being diagnosed with TBE, Stellas was eventually discharged from the hospital but continues to face significant challenges in her daily life due to memory problems and epileptic seizures. Taking 15 to 18 medications daily, Stellas has lost two jobs due to her memory issues and is now trying to raise awareness about tick-borne illnesses.Experts recommend that people traveling to high-risk areas get vaccinated against TBE at least a month in advance. Additionally, wearing long-sleeved clothing in the outdoors, using DEET-based insect repellents, and checking for ticks after spending time outside are crucial precautions.