Occurrence and Prevalence of Lyme disease In Massachusetts

The occurrence of Lyme disease in Massachusetts is an issue that has reached a near epidemic with virtually every family within the state having been affected by the disease in one way of another. So far Lyme disease has been declared as a public health issue in the Commonwealth (Reports of Lyme Disease in Massachusetts 2018). Grounded upon the statistics that have been conveyed to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH), the occurrences of Lyme disease that have been recorded continue to increase over the years. The last reportable records that were centred on the amount of recounted cases between the years 2000 to the year 2016 indicates 49,680 confirmed cases of Lyme disease preference in the state of Massachusetts (Reports of Lyme Disease in Massachusetts 2018). These facts unruffled by MDPH’s investigation are a proof that the occurrences of Lyme disease linger to upsurge through the Commonwealth and the fact that there is an urgent need to deal with this public issue. This paper will expound on the Lyme diseases trying to understand facts about the infection and its prevalence within Massachusetts.

Facts about Lyme disease

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that is transmitted by tiny black legged ticks. A human being is infected when the tick attaches itself to the humanoid body for a minimum of 24 hours in order for the bacteria to be spread (Levy, 2013). The Lyme disease is mostly prevalent in the Middle Atlantic, Northeast and the upper Middle West region of United States (Pfeiffer, 2018). Lyme infection has commonly been recounted in every town within Massachusetts and it has no set time limits. The ailment can ensue at any period of the year but it has been noted to be most dynamic between May and July because the fully-grown ticks are normally more energetic during the fall and spring but they are always out looking for hosts at any time when the winter temperatures are above freezing (Pfeiffer, 2018). The young ticks are more active during the warm months.

Symptoms

The symptoms of the Lyme diseases can begin to appear between days 3 to 30 after an individual has been bitten by an infected tick. If the symptoms are not treated when they occur, the disease tends to grow and the late symptoms of the ailment transpire weeks or years later after the initial infection (Levy, 2013). There are two stages of the symptoms of Lyme disease and they include;

• Early stage

This is within the first week after an infection. The common symptom at this stage is the occurrence of a rash where the tick was attached. The rash always begin as a minor red blemish that later on spreads outwards, clearing up at the centre (Way & White, 2013). Other symptoms that can be observed at this stage are flu-like symptoms for instance fever, stiff neck, a headache, sore muscles, fatigue and one may experience swollen glands (Way & White, 2013). Treatment at this stage is important to avoid more serious issues later on as the disease progresses.

• later stages

This is the stage that falls in the weeks to years after the first symptoms go untreated. If an individual is not treated, the Lyme disease can later develop late stage symptoms where the joints, the heart and the nervous symptoms are affected.

It is estimated that 60% of the people whose first symptoms of Lyme disease are not treated tend to develop arthritis in their elbows, writs and knees (Way & White, 2013). In this case the arthritis can move from one joint to another and it has a high chance of becoming chronic.

Other people that do not get treated with the early symptoms of the disease tend to develop nervous system problems that include meningitis which is a swelling of the tissues that conceal the brain and the spinal cord. Others may develop problems with the head nerves, weaknesses in the arms, feet or the legs and these symptoms can last for months where sometimes they are mild and other times they become severe. People with Lyme disease can also develop heart problems as an early or a later symptom, where the heart rate is slowed down and it causes fainting.

Treatment

The recommended management of Lyme malady by the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) is through the use of antibiotics at the early stages symptoms which will help prevent the escalation of supplementary symptoms of the ailment. IDSA advices that 28 days of prescription is sufficient treatment to help destroy the microorganisms that normally cause Lyme infection (Bjork et al., 2018). Advice from International Lyme and Associated Disease Society (ILADS) suggests that in count to the initial treatment that is given for the symptoms, there shouldn’t be any restrictions to more medication based on test centre analysis. ILADS illustrates that lengthier course of antibiotics is permissible as well intake of more antibiotics once there a relapse of the symptoms (Bjork et al., 2018).

Prevention measures

It is important for people to adopt some simple measures that can help reduce the chances of one getting bitten by an infected tick. Ticks love to cling to vegetation and they are numerously found in bushy, wooded or grassy environs (Schwartz et al., 2017). People should ensure that they are wearing long, light coloured clothing, with well tucked pants into the socks which will help to protect the skin from exposure and it will also be easy to cite a tick in the bright coloured cloths (Levy, 2013). People should ensure that they clear unwanted vegetation within their homes which will help reduce the habitation for ticks and hence reduce chances of infections.

Another effective prevention measure is the use of repellent DEET which is a chemical that as proven to be repellent to the ticks. It is important to however note that this chemical can be harmful to infants and it should then be used in the concentration of 30% or less on children (Levy, 2013). Pet owners should ensure that they get advice from the veterinarian about matters of tick control on their pets for instance use of tick repellent collars to reduce the chances of infection for both the pet and the people in that home. While walking or hiking, people should always ensure that avoid the hedge of the habitats where ticks may be attached (Schwartz et al., 2017).

It is imperative to note that both the adult ticks and the young ticks that are commonly known as the nymph can both spread the Lyme disease. It is however of major concern to look out for nymphs that are more destructive feeders and because they are so little, it can be hard to notice them (Schwartz et al., 2017). Ticks like to be in warm environment and so they can commonly be found in the groin, armpits, back of the knees, the scalp and the back of the neck among other places that are particularly warm. When a tick is found attached to the body, it should immediately be removed using tweezers that are fine point.

Research and outreach of Lyme disease in Massachusetts

There is lack of efficient mandating and diagnostic tools to help deal with the Lyme disease public health issue in Massachusetts. The scientists in Yale believe that the increased cases of Lyme syndrome are owed to climate changes while other academics propose that human influence on the inhabitants of the deer has been the cause of increased cases (Von Drehle et al., 2013). There still lacks substantial information in regard to the spread of Lyme disease across Massachusetts.

• Vaccine

The accessible studies on Lyme infection that has been instigated by the state or offered by the Department of Public Health and Human Services in the United States includes study and assessment of deterrence, uncovering and cure of the ailment as well as vaccine creations to help avert transmissions of the disease. The common vaccine that has so far been formulated is the LYMErix that was created in the year 1998 but was later pulled off the market in the year 2002 because of low demand (Onrust & Goa, 2000). There was a controversy in regard to the safety and efficacy of the vaccine and after it was conveyed before the FDA for evaluation in the year 2001 after which it was pulled off the market.

After its pull off, a bill was created in the year 2003 that required the government to release about $448386 to Yale University the school of medicine to help with more vaccine examination (Schwartz et al., 2017). Even with the funding, there has not been a breakthrough in regard to Lyme disease Vaccine since LYMErix. Many grants have been offered to help with funding field trials that evaluate the effectiveness of natural resources for the regulation of tick trajectories of Lyme infection but there are no conclusive results that have been generated (Levy, 2013).

Management of host abundance

It is estimated that the population of deer from New Jersey to New York is about 1,918,000 (Bjork et al., 2018). This surplus of deer is linked with complications such as deer vehicle accidents, lack of forest revival, damage to suburban sceneries and the rising incidences of Lyme syndrome among many others. This abundance of deer has led to increased distribution of black legged ticks that feed the deer, each of which is able to lay roughly 3,000 spawns and the deer assist as the mode of transportation for these ticks to go and lay eggs in various regions hence increasing their population (Von Drehle et al., 2013). The most effective deer management options in this case are the use of;

• Deer railing and repellents, this will prevent the deer from accessing human habited regions and thus limit the spread of infected ticks. It will also aid to reduce the damage of crops, accidents due to vehicle collisions with the deer among other problems (Von Drehle et al., 2013). Reducing the number of hosts for the tick will help reduce the spread of Lyme bacteria.
• Research has illustrated the effectiveness of the management of the deer in relation to reduced population of ticks. The decrease of deer concentrations to less than twenty deer per square mile can meaningfully lessen tick bites threats and intrude the sequence of Lyme infection and broadcast of the microorganisms that cause the infection to both the animals and human being (Von Drehle et al., 2013).

Lyme syndrome is a public health issue that needs to be seriously addressed in Massachusetts. People need to be educated about Lyme syndrome which will help them understand the risks, the symptoms and the ways that they can prevent bite risks. Education to the society will also help people to understand how they can manage the early symptoms to prevent serious effects of the disease in later stages. The State across the Northeast has so far passed a regulation concerning Lyme syndrome in the areas that range from authorizing health protection coverage of doctor treatment and also supplying state wide task services (Bjork et al., 2018). This has helped in establishing Lyme syndrome awareness months and also in mandating case reporting guidelines. More federal legislations that are specifically focussed on Lyme syndrome research, treatment and surveillance regulations still need to be effected.  

 

 

                                                         References

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Random Sampling as an Estimation Procedure for Lyme Disease Surveillance in Massachusetts and Minnesota. Zoonoses & Public Health, 65(2), 266–274. https://doi.org/10.1111/zph.12297

Levy, S. (2013). The Lyme Disease Debate. Environmental Health Perspectives, 121(4),

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Pfeiffer, M. B. (2018). Lyme: The first epidemic of climate change. Island Press-Center for

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Reports of Lyme Disease in Massachusetts. (2018). Retrieved from

            https://www.tickcheck.com/stats/state/massachusetts/lyme

Schwartz, A. M., Hinckley, A. F., Mead, P. S., Hook, S. A., & Kugeler, K. J. (2017).

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to Cull The Herd. Time, 182(24), 36. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=92663029&site=ehost-live

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     Disease. Northeastern Naturalist, 20(4), 655–665. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=93983988&site=ehost-live