Tick-borne diseases in TN are very serious
Excerpted from The Tennessean ( Posted: 03/31/2011 )
Research has previously documented the spread of ticks by migratory birds. The claim that babesiosis has only existed in Tennessee since 2009 reflects the rampant misinformation about tick-borne illness that has contributed to the unnecessary suffering described in your article.
Readers should know that lonestar ticks are present not just in wooded areas, but also in suburban yards. They carry what has been termed a “toxic soup” of pathogens, including but not limited to borrelia lonestari (implicated in “Master’s disease,” the Southeastern equivalent of Lyme disease) and bartonella, a particularly vicious pathogen that can cause devastating cognitive and neurological symptoms. Many tick-borne illnesses commence without the characteristic bull’s-eye rash; many ticks are virtually invisible to the naked eye.
The combination of insensitive diagnostic tests, mistaken beliefs about prevalence, and inadequate intervention guidelines has delayed treatment for many. The resulting costs in terms of lost school and work days, out-of-pocket medical costs and sheer human suffering are staggering for those who endure them.
For the complete article: http://www.tennessean.com/article/20110331/OPINION02/103310345/2070/Where-does-money-come-from-fight-wars-/Tick-borne-diseases-TN-very-serious?odyssey=mod_sectionstories
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