Lyme Disease And COVID Converge For Second Summer

Press release from the Putnam County Department of Health:

June 15, 2021

As spring turns to summer and temperatures rise, more people are heading outdoors. Mask-less activities for the vaccinated and low transmission rates are just two reasons that activities outside are so inviting. The risk and incidence of Lyme and other tickborne diseases however persist, and will rise, as they do every summer. Putnam rates have remained high over the last decade, while rates in New York State are increasing mainly due to geographic expansion.

“Getting outdoors and enjoying the beauty of our county is a good thing,” said County Executive MaryEllen Odell. “After the last 15 months we have endured, getting outside is more important than ever for our recovery and our mental health. Of course, we also should take precautions because we know our environment is likely to have ticks, which can carry various diseases.”

Health Commissioner Michael J. Nesheiwat, MD, pointed to the continued high rates of tickborne illnesses in Putnam County. “Lyme disease is by far the most prevalent, but not the only concern. Anaplasmosis and babesiosis, carried by the same tick that transmits Lyme disease, are also commonly diagnosed in Putnam County.”

People are bitten and exposed in a variety of circumstances. According to researchers at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Dutchess County, people are most likely to experience a tick bite in their own neighborhoods. Ticks are most commonly found low to the ground in leaf litter but can also be found in the grass. Gardening, picnicking, or walking in the grass on the side of the road—each of these activities can bring one in contact with a tick and the risk of disease.

“Outdoor activities during the spring and summer months when tiny nymphal deer ticks are active can present a risk,” said Dr. Nesheiwat. “That is why it is so important to take steps to prevent tick bites. Make daily tick checks a habit; cover exposed skin with clothing as the weather will allow; and use tick repellents.”

EPA or Environmental Protection Administration-registered repellents are recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Examples include those containing the active ingredients Picaridin, DEET, IR3535 and Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE). Clothing treated with permethrin also provides protection from tick bites. Permethrin can be purchased as a spray, or clothing can be bought pre-treated. For more information on approved repellents visit: https://www.epa.gov/insect-repellents/find-repellent-right-you or

https://espanol.epa.gov/control-de-plagas/encuentre-el-repelente-de-insectos-adecuado.

Recent reports from the tick testing center at SUNY Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse show an increase in disease prevalence among the ticks that they tested, which would point to the need to be ever more careful. The Center has been tracking, identifying and testing ticks sent to them by residents at no cost (dependent on grant funding).

“This type of tick testing has a scientific benefit for the community,” said Dr. Nesheiwat. “But it’s not appropriate to use these results to make clinical decisions. A positive test result on a tick does not mean you have been infected. Similarly, false reassurance can result from a negative test. When it comes to caring for patients, we look at symptoms and take an in-depth patient history. We have Lyme disease and other tickborne diseases on our radar, especially this time of year. The most common symptoms of Lyme include fever and chills, aches and pains, and most, but not all, will have the tell-tale oval or circular expanding rash, often referred to as a ‘bullseye rash.’” More comprehensive details about symptoms of all tickborne illnesses are available here: www.cdc.gov/ticks/symptoms.html.

The mission of the Putnam County Department of Health, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB), is to improve and protect the health of the Putnam County community, composed of nearly 100,000 residents. Core services include community health assessment, disease surveillance and control, emergency preparedness, environmental health protection, family health promotion and health education. For more information, please visit the Putnam County website at www.putnamcountyny.com, or visit our social media sites on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @PutnamHealthNY.

This press release was produced by the Putnam County Department of Health. The views expressed here are the author's own.