“ADPH Lyme Diseases case counts have increased dramatically from the previous four years”, Dr. Williamson said in the letter.
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Overall, Lyme disease cases in Canada are increasing: the government reported 128 cases in 2009 and 682 in 2013.
Colchester-born Sarah Mills’ was diagnosed with Lyme disease in October 2013, leaving her unable to work.
The Westcountry has been revealed as a hotspot for a serious bacterial infection which is hard to diagnose but can ruin the health of sufferers when left untreated. Fortunately, it is often cured in its early stages with a single dose or round of common antibiotics.
Soaring numbers of people are suffering from the disease, spread to humans by infected ticks, according to new figures. Infected ticks were first found locally at Presque Isle State Park in the early 1980s and have since moved inland. So much so, the State Department of Health is calling it an “endemic” in a number of counties.
“We applaud the collaborative effort underway with the ADPH, The Alabama Study Commission on Tick-borne Illnesses, Lawmakers and other groups (including ALDA) to investigate ways to proactively protect Alabama citizens through awareness, education and research”, said Alabama Lyme Disease Association (ALDA) President and Founder Kevin Wolfe. The insect, which is about the size of the head of a pin, then searches for a warm, dark body spot for feeding.
Lyme disease is caused by the bite of a tick as small as a poppy seed which can occur when people are walking through long grass or even gardening.
Early symptoms of Lyme disease often include fever, fatigue, headache, muscle aches, joint pain and a red rash that looks like a bull’s-eye.
“The vast majority of tick bites do not transmit Lyme disease but, if patients are truly concerned, there are serological blood tests that detect antibodies to the infection, which can be arranged through your GP”, says Dr Helen Webberley, the dedicated GP for Oxford Online Pharmacy. “That’s why it is important to take precautions if you plan to walk along a trail or through the woods”. Wear long trousers and a long-sleeved shirt, and consider using an insect repellent with DEET, he says.
– Tuck your pant legs into your socks to create a barrier the tick can’t penetrate. Apply even pressure and pull away from the skin. “If you have a rash after a tick bite, you want to see a doctor”, he says.
“We need a review of the system”.
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A few of these problems will slowly get better with treatment, although they can persist if treatment is started late.
