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Department of Health and Human Services > Epidemiology
and Disease Reporting > Epidemiology
Corner > Lyme
disease
Epidemiology
Corner
February
25, 2005
Lyme
disease
How do people
get Lyme disease?
Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi.
In 1976, the disease was first described in Lyme Connecticut,
which is how it received its name. The disease was first described
in Texas in 1984. These bacteria are transmitted to humans by
the bite of an infected tick, most commonly of the genus Ixodes.
In the northeastern and north-central U. S., this tick genus
is more commonly known as the deer tick or black- legged tick,
and on the Pacific Coast, the western black-legged tick.
When and where is Lyme
disease most common?
Lyme disease has a seasonal occurrence in the U.S. since it
is dependent on the tick life cycle. It is most common during
late spring and summer months when ticks are most active and
people are more susceptible by spending more time outdoors wearing
fewer articles of clothing. In the U.S., Lyme disease is mostly
localized to states in the northeastern, mid-Atlantic, and upper
north-central regions and to several counties in northwestern
California.
Epidemiology
In 2003, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC),
there were 21,273 cases of Lyme disease in the U.S. Eighty-five
of the cases occurred in Texas. In 2004, 16 cases of Lyme disease
were reported in Houston. (Note: CDC’s Final 2004 Report
of Notifiable Disease is not yet available.) Lyme disease is
thought to be greatly under reported.
What are the symptoms
of Lyme disease?
According to the CDC, 80 percent of patients will experience
a red, slowly expanding characteristic “bull’s eye”
rash also called erythema migrans within days to weeks following
the bite of an infected tick. Patients could also experience
general “flu-like” symptoms such as fatigue/lethargy,
fever, headache, stiff neck, joint pains and muscle aches. If
untreated, weeks to months after an infected tick bite patients
could develop arthritis, neurological abnormalities and cardiac
problems (rare). Some infected individuals do not experience
symptoms or only manifest non-specific symptoms such as fever
and headache. Lyme disease is rarely, if ever, fatal.
Is there treatment for
Lyme disease?
Lyme disease can be treated with the appropriate course of antibiotics.
Having the disease, does not prevent against reinfection.
Is there a vaccine?
There is no longer a commercially available vaccine for Lyme
disease.
Suggestions for prevention
and control of Lyme disease:
- Reduce tick habitats by removing
leaf litter from around the edges of yards and houses.
- People traveling
to endemic areas should avoid tick habitats if possible.
- Use an approved
insect repellant.
- Inspect yourself
frequently. Transmission of Borrelia burgdorferi is unlikely
to occur in the first 36 hours of tick attachment; therefore,
prompt removal of the tick will help prevent infection.
- Wear light
colored clothing so ticks can be easily seen.
- Tuck pant
legs into boots or socks.
For more information
on Lyme disease visit the CDC website at: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/lyme/index.htm
and or the Texas Department of State Health Services website
at: http://www.tdh.state.tx.us/zoonosis/diseases/LYME
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