Reports of Lyme Disease on the Rise
Excerpted from NBC29.com ( Posted: 06/16/2010 ):
Health officials said the number of reported cases of Lyme disease has jumped in recent years. The Thomas Jefferson Health District (VA) said they’re getting lots of calls about ticks. Elizabeth Davies is the District Epidemiologist with the Thomas Jefferson Health District and said reports of Lyme disease for 2010 are still coming in.
“2007 we had 8 reports of Lyme disease confirmed and probable cases and in 2009 we had 66,” said Davies.
In 2007 there were almost 1,000 cases of Lyme disease statewide and in 2006 just 357. Some experts believe the jump is due to the increase in the deer population. The blacklegged tick carries Lyme disease and depends on deer to reproduce.
Peter Warren is an Extension Agent in Albemarle County. He said his office has been fielding calls from people concerned about ticks.
“Really they’re more interested in smaller animals, I guess as big as a deer maybe, but mice, other rodents and deer are really the cycle of their disease transmission. But humans sort of end up as a dead end host for the disease,” said Warren.
For the full article: http://www.nbc29.com/Global/story.asp?S=12657233
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