Western Pa. residents at risk for Lyme disease
A bull’s-eye-shaped skin rash is a clear sign that one was targeted by a tick infected with Lyme disease.
Outdoor lovers and pet owners are asked to remain vigilant in light of recent news that deer ticks have migrated to Western Pennsylvania. For the first time, the disease-carrying parasites were observed in all 67 counties in Pennsylvania, according to researchers at the state Department of Environmental Protection and Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Their study was published in the Journal of Medical Entomology.
Deer ticks, also known as blacklegged ticks, are the primary carrier of the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. It is transmitted through bites and can affect both animals and people. In humans, infection can cause fever, fatigue, headaches, muscle aches and a distinctive skin rash.
Southwest Regional Medical Center in Waynesburg saw an uptick in cases over the past year, hospital spokeswoman Joy Eggleston said.
The hospital treated six people suffering from Lyme disease between July and November of last year, and also had another case this month, according to hospital records. Eggleston said they began noticing the increase midway through 2014 and are bracing for the trend to continue this year.
“This year is proving to be significantly higher than usual,” Eggleston said. “Historically, we have seen just one or two reportable cases annually.”
Researchers compared findings to a similar study from the mid-1960s, at which time no deer ticks were found in Western Pennsylvania. The latest study also found the presence of two other tick diseases, Babesiosis and Anaplasmosis, but those are less common than Lyme disease.
Although the disease spread to Western Pennsylvania, cases of Lyme disease in the region are still “relatively lower” than the rest of the state, according to a DEP news release. However, Pennsylvania reported more cases of Lyme disease in the past five years than any other state.
The DEP said people who spend time outdoors should wear protective clothing, use insect repellent and do a full-body check afterward. Dr. Rachel Levine, physician general of the state Department of Health, said an early diagnosis and treatment can prevent late-stage complications.
“Parents should check their children for ticks,” she said in a news release. “Showering within two hours of outdoor exposure may also help prevent transmission. If an individual has been bitten by a tick, we recommend that they remove the tick carefully with a set of fine-tipped tweezers.”
Greene County bureau chief Mike Jones contributed to this report.