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yme disease is over 100% in cases
extremely com- of Lyme disease. The
mon across the United age groups with the high-
States, especially in the North- est increase were children ages
east. While there are some common 5-14 and young males. The CDC has
symptoms of infection, there are many symptoms indicated that reported cases are about 10% of
that mimic other diseases. Laboratory testing may miss up to actual cases that meet their surveillance criteria. This means
50% of patients with this illness. This combination, along with that up to 90% of cases that meet these criteria are not be-
its prevalence in Connecticut, makes it important for us to be ing reported. Currently, over 20,000 cases of Lyme disease are
familiar with the basics of Lyme. being reported each year in the United States. If unreported
cases are as prevalent as suspected, then there are likely over
What is Lyme disease? 200,000 new cases per year. This would mean that each year 5
times more people would contract Lyme than HIV/AIDS.
Lyme disease is the most common vector borne illness Lyme disease has reached epidemic proportions in the
in the United States transmitted to humans by the bite of an Northeastern states, including Connecticut. In 2008, the
infected Ixodes scapularis tick. This tick is better known by its CT statewide incidence of Lyme disease was 114 cases per
common name the blacklegged or deer tick. Lyme disease is 100,000 people, with some counties reaching a rate of 250
caused by the bacterial spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi. Cases cases per 100,000. Approximately 25% of people who be-
of Lyme have been reported in all 50 states. Summer is the come infected with Lyme are children.
peak time for people to get deer tick bites. Since symptoms
may not show themselves for 1-3 months or more after trans- When are deer ticks most active?
mission, it’s important to keep Lyme in mind this time of year.
The deer tick can be found active during all months of
How common is Lyme disease? the year; however, peak incidence of Lyme transmission oc-
curs during the summer months. Adult deer tick activity peaks
Over the period 1992-2006, the Centers for Disease in early spring and again in mid-fall. Adult ticks account for
Control and Prevention (CDC) noted an annual increase of transmission of about 5% of reported cases of Lyme disease.
12 NaturalNutmeg
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