Lyme Disease - US NE

[coldsteelva]

Guinea Fowl are fantastic for eating every creepy-crawly they can get their beak on

 

[oosik]

I don't think Lyme disease has been found in our area, yet. Deer ticks, which carry the disease, are VERY rare. However, wood ticks are thick as thieves and they do carry Hantavirus.

 

[KYErik]

We have Lyme here but it is not nearly as common as it is in the northeast. I knew an avid outdoorsman from the northeast (Massachusetts if I remember correctly) and he said he was amazed at how many more ticks were in this area. From his perspective, it seemed like there are fewer ticks and tick bites in the Northeast, but a much higher chance of getting Lyme per bite. A university did a study of ticks in the western KY area and found the bacterium causing Lyme in many of the ticks (Borrelia burgdorferi), but apparently it is a weaker strain than is present in the Northeast and so it is less likely to cause the disease in healthy people.

 

[teejk]

We have Lyme here but it is not nearly as common as it is in the northeast. I knew an avid outdoorsman from the northeast (Massachusetts if I remember correctly) and he said he was amazed at how many more ticks were in this area. From his perspective, it seemed like there are fewer ticks and tick bites in the Northeast, but a much higher chance of getting Lyme per bite. A university did a study of ticks in the western KY area and found the bacterium causing Lyme in many of the ticks (Borrelia burgdorferi), but apparently it is a weaker strain than is present in the Northeast and so it is less likely to cause the disease in healthy people.

It's pretty common throughout Wisconsin. We are also seeing an increase in anaplasmosis (another tick thing) in dogs. Dunno if it has changed but for awhile it would not show on a common lyme test. I think there is another tick disease coming at us from the west.

 

[Soundguy]

My niece was diagnosed a few weeks ago with full blown late stage Lyme disease. It was originally misdiagnosed as mono many months ago, even though she had the tell-tale bulls eye rash and all the other symptoms. The poor girl is in agony with random joint pain and is undergoing major rounds of antibiotics. From my understanding, when it reaches this stage, it's chronic and untreatable. Sort of like shingles, you always harbor the virus and you'll have occasional flare-ups.

I was planning to read up on it some more tonight.

it's not a virus. Lyme disease is caused by spirochetal bacteria from the genus Borrelia.

 

[shaeff]

Rick and Felicia, whom are referenced in the article that is linked in the first post are my parent's neighbors. I actually mow their lawn in the summer. They're great people, VERY smart, very down to earth.

 

[chuck172]

Never mind fox, check out the invasive jap barberry as being the main cause of lymes spreading.

 

[teejk]

Never mind fox, check out the invasive jap barberry as being the main cause of lymes spreading.

I thought you were joking...but I looked it up. I wonder if the relationship is merely coincidental or whether the bush is a safe haven for the white footed mouse.

 

[NorTracNY]

Never mind fox, check out the invasive jap barberry as being the main cause of lymes spreading.

I sure learn a lot on this site. Thanks. Yet another plant for me to learn to identify and get rid of.

 

[TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark]

Folks, it's Lyme, not "Lymes". No "s" on the end. It's named after the town of Lyme, Connecticut.

Kill the ticks and you kill the danger. Easier said than done, but tick tubes are a great way to do it. Use cheap PVC pipe and permethrin to make your own.

Finding a doctor who understands Lyme is very difficult. The CDC has basically declared war on doctors who dare to suggest there is such a thing as chronic Lyme, and who want to treat patients with more than 30 days of antibiotics. Some have lost their licenses, and the rest have pretty much gone underground. As usual in the world of medicine, upholding the party line is more important than truth.

Semmelweis would have fared no better today.