Vermont grapples with the second highest rate of Lyme disease in country

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20130616/GREEN01/306160004/Vermont-grapples-second-highest-rate-Lyme-disease-country



EXCELLENT comments from Georgia Lyme Disease Association on the linked article. GALDA highlights many misconceptions and their pertinence to those in the SOUTH. A must read for all southerners (or anyone else at risk f tick-borne diseases) who spend any time outdoors; PLEASE READ these comments prior to reading the article:

"We appreciate your article about Lyme disease. We were encouraged by your advice concerning tick removal and preventative measures. There are, however, some misconceptions that should be corrected."

"People should be informed that Lyme disease is present in ticks, animals and humans in the Southern United States. They should be concerned about black-legged "deer" ticks, but even more so, about the very aggressive lone star tick, which is the tick species most commonly reported feeding on humans in our region.
For many years, published evidence has made the lone star tick a suspect culprit of Lyme disease. In a newly published study, Lyme Borreliosis in Human Patients in Florida and Georgia, USA (Clark, et al), lone star ticks were implicated in transmitting Lyme disease bacteria, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, to patients with no travel history. Additionally, two species of Lyme disease bacteria never before reported in humans anywhere were identified in symptomatic southern patients. Current tests are not designed to detect these Lyme species."

"Readers should also understand:

- Though most Lyme disease cases are reported from 12 -13 states in the Northeastern USA, these states are provided federal funding to track cases while most states are not. Thus, Lyme disease appears to be in certain areas but isn't necessarily tracked accurately in others. Different reporting procedures are also used in various states.

- Lyme disease isn't always heralded by a rash. Depending on the study, only between 60 to 80 percent of Lyme patients present with the rash, called erythema migrans , which may manifest not only as a "bull's eye" but as a solid, red, expanding lesion or in other various forms. Unfortunately, cases without a rash can be difficult to recognize in early stages when treatment is most effective.

- Though it's often cited that a tick must be attached 36 hours to transmit Lyme disease, various studies have documented cases transmitted anywhere from 6 to 24 hours."

"Finally, unfortunately, Lyme disease cases or statistics cannot be compared by visiting the CDC's website or on the national case map. These statistics are misleading. What is reportable as a case in the Northeastern USA is routinely dismissed in the South, thus, true prevalence in the South remains unknown. The State of Georgia, however, was 4th in the nation in highest number of CDC-reported Lyme disease cases in 1989 with 715 on record. In 2010, due to restricted reporting practices, only 10 Georgia cases were reported."

"Georgia Lyme Disease Association and other Lyme organizations across the South hear from thousands of Southerners who claim they've contracted Lyme disease with no travel history. Many share their positive tests and case notes. Some claim they have contracted the disease 2 and even 3 times, others report multiple family members infected. Is this really surprising in a region where scientists have documented more Lyme bacterial species and strains than any other area of the country?"

"Different reporting practices prevent these cases from appearing on the CDC's national case map. Inaccurate statistics mislead medical providers and citizens alike, causing Lyme disease cases to go unrecognized and untreated in early stages. This can result in bacterial infections that are much more difficult to treat and may lead to permanent damage."

"We urge citizens and medical providers in the South to become educated about Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses and their prevention. Ticks feed on various animals and may transmit one or more of several pathogens to humans. Play it safe - if you develop symptoms following a tick bite, seek immediate medical attention from a tick-borne disease knowledgeable medical provider."

Thank you.

Georgia Lyme Disease Association.