Where Is it Possible to
Contract Lyme Disease?

What Is Lyme Disease?

Lyme disease is an infection that is caused by a spiral-shaped bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi. It gets its name from the geographical region in which it was first identified, which is Lyme, Connecticut, in the United States. Though ticks can transmit Lyme disease year-round, ticks are generally not active until the warmer months. In parts of the world where the disease-carrying tick is most prevalent, “tick season” is between April and October.

How Lyme disease manifests depends on for how long the infection has been present in the body. Initially, Lyme disease is asymptomatic. After three to 30 days from the date of first infection, however, symptoms begin to develop in stages. In the first stage, symptoms are localized. Typically, the first sign of Lyme disease infection is a red rash that resembles a bullseye. Though warm to the touch, the rash is typically not itchy. Once the rash develops, infected persons may develop one or more of the following symptoms:

• Headache
• Fever
• Joint pain
• Extreme fatigue
• Muscle aches and pains
• Swollen lymph nodes

Without treatment, Lyme disease grows progressively worse. As a result, so, too, do the symptoms. Stage 2 symptoms appear within three to 10 weeks post-tick bite. Once Stage 2 symptoms appear, the disease has progressed into something called “early disseminated disease.” This disease is characterized by the following symptoms:

• Many rashes on other parts of the body
• Muscle weakness on one or both sides of the face
• Neck stiffness or pain
• Pain that radiates from the back and hips and spreads to the legs
• Pain, numbness and weakness in the hands or feet
• Immune system dysfunction that causes irregular heart rate
• Painful swelling in the tissues of the eyelid or eye
• Immune activity that causes pain in the eyes or vision loss

In the third and final stage of Lyme disease, the condition has progressed into late disseminated disease. In this stage, the most prominent symptom is arthritis in large joints, often called “Lyme arthritis.” In addition to painful joint swelling and stiffness that can last for long periods of time, infected persons may also experience the symptoms of Stage 2. Stage 3 symptoms typically develop between two to 12 months after the tick bite.

Lyme disease is a serious condition that causes progressively worse and uncomfortable symptoms. For this reason, not only is it important to be able to recognize the early signs of infection but also, to know where infection is most likely occur so you can avoid it entirely.

Where Lyme Disease Occurs

There are two types of ticks that are the most common carriers of Lyme disease:

• The black-legged tick, or deer tick, in North America
• The castor bean tick, deer tick or sheep tick of Europe
• A few other species throughout Europe and Asia

The most common carrier of Lyme disease is the North American deer tick. Understandably, then, the majority of cases occur in the North America or, more specifically, the North Eastern states of North America. Of all the cases that have been reported to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, 93% occurred in just 10 states. Those 10 states are as follows:

• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Minnesota
• New Jersey
• New York
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• Wisconsin

Though the Pacific Northwest of the U.S. does not have nearly as many as reported cases as the North East, a moderate number of cases have come from there. There have also been a growing number of cases throughout Europe and Asia.

The Ideal Tick Environment

Generally speaking, ticks like grassy yards, wooded areas and low-growing grasslands. This is the case for most species of tick and not just the tick that carries Borrelia burgdorferi. Ticks typically come out in the Spring and Fall months, when rain is plentiful and when the foliage is lush. However, in many regions in which ticks are present, the risk of tick bites remain through the summer as well.

It is important to note that not all ticks carry the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria, even in regions in which Lyme disease is an endemic. In some regions, less than 1% of ticks carry the virus. In others, more than 50% are infected.

Risk Factors for Lyme Disease

People who are most at risk for developing Lyme disease are those who live and work outdoors in regions in which there are high populations of the deer tick. However, anyone who visits a tick-infested region is also at risk. This is especially true for persons who work or spend time outdoors in areas where the Western black-legged tick is found or for persons who have pets that bring ticks into the home.

Are There Other Modes of Transmission?

There are dozens of misconceptions regarding how Lyme disease is transmitted or passed from one host to another. Below are a few of the most common misunderstandings:

• No scientific evidence exists that suggests that Lyme disease can be passed from person to person, such as through touch, saliva or sexual intercourse.
• Though it is possible for Lyme disease infection to spread from a mother to her foetus through the placenta, the odds of this occurring are extremely low. Moreover, if a medical professional detects Lyme infection in a mother, he or she can administer appropriate antibiotics to both treat the mother and eliminate the risk of adverse outcomes for the baby. Moreover, no published studies exist that demonstrate adverse outcomes for a baby born to a mother who is infected with Lyme disease.
• Though dogs, cats and other domestic animals can contract Lyme disease, and though they can bring infected ticks into the home, they cannot spread the disease directly to their owners. However, that does not mean people in high risk areas should not take steps to protect their furry friends and themselves against infection with the help of tick control products.
• Though no cases of Lyme disease have been directly linked to blood transfusions, scientists have discovered the disease can live in stored blood. For this reason, labs will not accept blood from donors who are currently receiving treatment for Lyme disease. However, labs may accept blood from potential donors who have successfully completed antibiotic treatment.
• While you cannot contract Lyme disease from venison or squirrel meat, health organizations across the globe agree that you should always cook meat thoroughly and abide by general food preparation safety principles. You should also be aware that hunting game such as deer and squirrels may bring you into close contact with infectious ticks.
• Findings do not support assertions that Lyme disease can be transmitted through food, water, air or the bites of mosquitoes, fleas, flies or lice.
• Research shows that most ticks are transmitters of Lyme disease. Many ticks, including the American dog tick, the Rocky Mountain wood tick and the Lone Star tick, do carry other diseases but do not carry the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.

Lyme disease is a serious endemic in some parts of the world — namely North America, Europe and Asia. However, in most other parts of the world, including South Africa, it is not a huge risk. That said, it is still smart to be aware of where you can catch Lyme disease, how and what you can do to protect yourself against infection.