“BLAST”
Away Your Risk For Lyme Disease!
With
warm weather upon us and people spending more time outdoors, The Eastern Highlands Health District (EHHD) is reminding
residents to take precautions to prevent being bitten by ticks and being
potentially exposed to Lyme disease or other tick-borne illnesses. “Tick activity this
spring is expected to be very high this year. Citizens are urged to remain
vigilant in efforts to prevent tick bites.” states Robert Miller, Director of
Health for the EHHD.
According
to the CDC, Lyme disease is the most commonly reported vector borne illness (or
disease transmitted to humans by ticks, mosquitoes or fleas) in the United
States, with nearly 30,000 confirmed cases reported every year.
According to Dr. Goudarz Molaei, who
directs the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) Tick Testing
Program, “we have received over 450 ticks so far this year and nearly 38% have
tested positive for Lyme disease spirochetes, 10% for Babesia microti,the
causative agent of babesiosis, and 5% for Anaplasma phagocytophilum, the
causative agent of human granulocytic anaplasmosis.” The higher tick abundance
appears to be related to warmer winter temperatures in the State during the
last two years.
Over the past five years, the Tick
Testing Laboratory has received 12,483 ticks from Connecticut residents or
health departments for testing and on average 27% tested positive for the Lyme
disease agent.
About:
Lyme disease is caused by the
bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and is transmitted to people by the bite of an
infected black-legged tick (also known as the deer tick). The greatest risk for
Lyme disease is between the months of May and August when the black-legged tick
is in the juvenile stage; it’s the size of a poppy seed and very difficult to
see, so individuals may be unaware they have been bitten. Ticks that transmit
Lyme can also transmit other diseases, such as anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and
Powassan virus. Although not as common as Lyme, these diseases can also cause
illness.
Symptoms
Symptoms of Lyme disease include fever, headache, fatigue, and
often a skin rash that is round and looks like a bulls-eye. Lyme disease is
treatable with antibiotics, but if left untreated can lead to severe headaches
and neck pain caused by meningitis (inflammation of the spinal cord), pain and
swelling in the large joints, shooting pains that may interfere with sleep, and
heart palpitations and dizziness.
Prevention
EHHD recommends following “BLAST” steps to prevent tick bites and
reduce your risk for tick borne diseases:
B athe or shower soon after coming indoors
L ook for ticks and remove with fine tipped
tweezers
A pply repellents to skin and/or clothing*
S cultp your yard to reduce tick habitats**
T reat your pets with a product recommended by
your vet
* Using repellents and
pesticides, while proven effective, is a personal decision
** Please reference the tick management
handbook at www.ehhd.org/tickprevention for
tips on landscape management
If not treated, Lyme disease can
create serious health complications. Remember that prevention efforts and early
interventions can minimize the risk. According
to the latest research from the CDC, “patients treated with appropriate
antibiotics in the early stages of Lyme disease usually recover rapidly and
completely.” Always
remember to speak with your healthcare provided if you or a family member is bitten
by a tick or if you notice a large round rash anywhere on you.
More Resources:
For more information about Lyme disease and other tick-borne
diseases, including information on recognizing a rash, the printable version of
the BLAST brochure, how to remove a tick, tips on landscape management, and
resources on getting ticks tested for Lyme, visit the EHHD website at www.ehhd.org/tickprevention.
Detailed
information about tick-associated diseases and prevention can be
found at the following websites:
www.ct.gov/caes/cwp/view.asp?a=2837&q=378212&caesNav=|
www.ct.gov/dph/cwp/view.asp?a=3136&q=395590