Which states lyme disease

The number of ticks and tick-borne illnesses in the United States is increasing. No longer is the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis or Ixodes pacificus on the West Coast , which transmits Lyme disease, the only tick that should be of concern. And no longer do tick-borne illnesses affect only people living in certain areas of the country. The problem is spreading. Two prime examples of this spread include the new Longhorned tick — which was first found in New Jersey in in sheep and has spread to 10 states in the East in two years — as well as the Lone Star tick see map below , which originated in Texas and has spread north and east into New England.

People travel more today than ever before. This means they can contract a tick-borne illness in one region before traveling back to their home region and getting a diagnosis. Experts have cited reforestation and suburbanization in the Northeastern U. That leads to an increase in overall rates of tick-borne disease.

The CDC also notes that researchers are currently uncovering new disease-causing germs as well as new tick species. These developments underscore an ever increasing need for better education, tick prevention, and diagnostic testing for Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases. The data shows that Lyme and other tick-borne diseases are a risk to anyone, anywhere, any time of year. Practice good tick prevention no matter where you live in the U. For the most up to date and accurate information and articles about ticks and tick-borne diseases, please visit Tick Talk Resource.

Why IGeneX? This spiral shaped bacterium is most commonly spread by a tick bite. The disease takes its name from Lyme, Connecticut. This is where the illness was first identified in the United States in Although Lyme disease is a year-round problem, April through October is considered tick season.

Cases of Lyme disease have been reported in nearly all states in the U. Lyme disease is caused by bacteria that is spread to humans by tick bites. The ticks that carry the spirochete are:. Ticks prefer to live in wooded areas, low-growing grasslands, and yards. Not all ticks carry the Lyme disease bacteria.

While most tick bites are harmless, several species can cause life-threatening diseases. Tick-borne diseases include:. Working or spending time outdoors in areas where the black-legged deer tick or Western black-legged deer tick is found.

The list of possible symptoms is long, and symptoms can affect every part of the body. The following are the most common symptoms of Lyme disease. On average, the skin lesion lasts approximately 3 weeks.

The rash is often accompanied by fever, headache, myalgia, fatigue, arthralgia, and stiff neck. Left untreated the disease may progress to more serious neurologic meningitis, meningoencephalitis, uni- or bilateral facial palsy, etc or cardiac atrioventricular heart block, myocarditis manifestations termed early disseminated second stage.

The infection may ultimately result in arthritis in half of infected individuals if not treated. The arthritis tends to involve large joints knee, shoulder, elbow, etc with a sudden onset.

The involved joint is tender, swollen, and warm. Erythema migrans rash. The diagnosis of Lyme disease may be made clinically and confirmed serologically. If the patient presents with erythema migrans and a history of tick exposure, the diagnosis can be based solely on the clinical presentation. However, if the patient presents later in the course of illness, serologic testing is necessary. A Western blot assay detecting both IgM and IgG should be performed if the child is being evaluated within 4 weeks of symptom onset.

Children with clinically suspected early Stage 1 disease who test negative should undergo paired acute and convalescent serologic testing. The IgG Western blot may be performed without the IgM component after 4 weeks of symptoms because most patients with disseminated later stages disease will have IgG present. Interpretation of the Western blot assay is based on the number of bands detected for each of the immunoglobulin isotypes.

This page has been automatically translated from English. MSDH has not reviewed this translation and is not responsible for any inaccuracies. If you live in or visit a high-risk area, follow these tips: Don't walk bare-legged in tall grass, woods, or dunes where ticks may live. If you do walk in these places, wear a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, high socks with pants tucked tightly into the socks , and sneakers.

Light colors will help you spot the ticks on your clothes before they reach your skin. Use insect repellents that contain DEET on your clothes or exposed skin, or those that contain permethrin on your clothes.

Read labels carefully. Wash skin thoroughly after returning indoors. Rare but serious reactions to repellents can occur. Check for ticks every day. Their favorite places are on the legs, thighs, groin, in the armpits, along the hairline, and in or behind the ears.