State Health Department Releases Alarming Lyme Disease Statistics
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - With more attention being paid to Lyme disease, the State Department of Health released some alarming new statistics today.
"We have recorded close to 4,000 cases of Lyme in most of our annual reports in the past decade," Department of Health Secretary Dr. Karen Murphy said. "In 2014, we have reported nearly 7,000 cases."
In Allegheny County, 34 percent of deer ticks carry the bacteria that cause Lyme disease.
To get an accurate picture of Lyme disease in our area, the Allegheny County Health Department called all the doctors and patients involved in last year's reports to confirm these were actual cases.
For 2014, the Health Department has verified 822, which is very different from a decade ago, when only 20 were reported.
To get Lyme disease, a deer tick has to be attached for at least a day. Infection comes with flu-like symptoms and a bullseye rash at the bite. Joint, nerve and heart problems can occur. The illness can be treated with antibiotics.
The best prevention method is to avoid ticks. But, if you are outdoors, wear bug spray, and then check your children, and check yourselves.
"We are even telling golfers, hikers to be sure they are doing complete body checks when they come in from being outside," Dr. Murphy said.
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