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Cause:
Spiral
shaped bacterium (spirochete) Borrelia burgdorferi.
Illness and treatment:
There are skin
and systemic “flu-like” symptoms, such as fatigue, headache,
fever, and muscle and joint aches. The classic symptom is a
target-shaped (bull’s-eye) rash. Joint, nervous system, or
heart complications can occur.
Sources:
Only certain hard tick
species transmit Lyme disease from the rodent or deer
reservoirs. In the Pacific coastal United States, the
western blacklegged (or deer) tick (Ixodes pacificus)
is the primary vector. These ticks live in heavily-forested
or dense brushy areas, not open areas. It is likely these
ticks must attach for at least 24 hours to transmit the
disease.
Prevention:
During outdoor activities in
endemic areas avoid tick bites by wearing appropriate
clothing and using repellents. Check the body for ticks. If
bitten by a tick, be alert for "flu-like" symptoms or rash
over the next month. If symptoms develop, contact a health
care provider.
Recent Washington trends:
Each year there are 7 to 18 reports. Most Washington cases
are the result of a tick bite out of state. The few endemic
cases have tick exposures predominantly on the west side of
the Cascade Mountains, reflecting the distribution of the
Ixodes ticks.
2008:
23 cases were reported, 2
with exposure in Chelan and Mason counties.
Purpose of Reporting and
Surveillance
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To determine the incidence of Lyme disease,
the degree of endemicity, and potential risk of contracting
Lyme disease in Washington State
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To identify endemic geographic areas within
Washington State
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To educate people about how to reduce their
risk of infection
Legal Reporting Requirements
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Health care providers: notifiable to local
health jurisdiction within 3 work days.
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Hospitals: notifiable to local health
jurisdiction within 3 work days.
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Laboratories: no requirements for
notification.
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Veterinarians: notifiable to Washington
State Department of Agriculture or to the local health
jurisdiction within 7 work days.
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Local health jurisdictions: notifiable to
the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) Communicable
Disease Epidemiology Section (CDES) within 7 days of case
investigation completion or summary information required
within 21 days.
Last
update
November 2009 |
