Reports of Lyme Disease Increasing in Vermont

[Franky]

by: The Associated Press
April 04 2007 Article # 9316

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The incidence of Lyme disease in Vermont has seen a "sudden and dramatic increase" since the end of 2003, a Shelburne veterinarian says.

Before 2003, the cases of Lyme disease Gary Solow saw in dogs were usually in animals that had visited Connecticut, Rhode Island or southern Maine.

Solow used to treat less than one case of Lyme disease a year; now he sees 25 or more a year.

And the number of people with Lyme disease increased from 54 in 2005 to 105 last year and the number of cases contracted within the state increased from 29 to 62, the Vermont Health Department said. More than half the cases were in Bennington County.

Lyme disease is transmitted by the black-legged tick, also known as the deer tick, said Health Department epidemiologist Patsy Tassler.

State entomologist John Turmel said climate changes and close proximity between deer and humans could explain why the disease is spreading.

Symptoms of Lyme disease include lethargy, joint pain, fever, limping and loss of appetite.

Animals and humans can be treated with antibiotics.

Experts say that if ticks are removed from their hosts--both human and animal--within a short period of time there is little chance of becoming infected.

Tassler said an infected tick must stay attached to a person for at least 36 hours to spread the disease.

For dogs the duration is less.

Veterinarian Karen Bradley, of the Vermont Veterinary Medical Association, said the increase in Lyme disease cases could be due to increased testing for the disease.

"The basic sense I'm getting, is yes, we are seeing more positives, but we are not seeing a sharp rise in cases for illness."

[Franky]

by: The Associated Press
April 04 2007 Article # 9316

Article Tools


The incidence of Lyme disease in Vermont has seen a "sudden and dramatic increase" since the end of 2003, a Shelburne veterinarian says.

Before 2003, the cases of Lyme disease Gary Solow saw in dogs were usually in animals that had visited Connecticut, Rhode Island or southern Maine.

Solow used to treat less than one case of Lyme disease a year; now he sees 25 or more a year.

And the number of people with Lyme disease increased from 54 in 2005 to 105 last year and the number of cases contracted within the state increased from 29 to 62, the Vermont Health Department said. More than half the cases were in Bennington County.

Lyme disease is transmitted by the black-legged tick, also known as the deer tick, said Health Department epidemiologist Patsy Tassler.

State entomologist John Turmel said climate changes and close proximity between deer and humans could explain why the disease is spreading.

Symptoms of Lyme disease include lethargy, joint pain, fever, limping and loss of appetite.

Animals and humans can be treated with antibiotics.

Experts say that if ticks are removed from their hosts--both human and animal--within a short period of time there is little chance of becoming infected.

Tassler said an infected tick must stay attached to a person for at least 36 hours to spread the disease.

For dogs the duration is less.

Veterinarian Karen Bradley, of the Vermont Veterinary Medical Association, said the increase in Lyme disease cases could be due to increased testing for the disease.

"The basic sense I'm getting, is yes, we are seeing more positives, but we are not seeing a sharp rise in cases for illness."