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Jun 23, 2009 10:55 pm US/Central
Lyme Disease 'Ticks' People Off In Brainerd
BRAINERD, Minn. (WCCO) ―
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An adult female nymph tick.
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This month, the health department reported that deer ticks carrying Lyme disease have spread to three Minnesota counties where they have not been before.
One of the state's most popular vacation areas is now the state's hot spot for the disease-carrying pests.
"I find them all the time," said Crow Wing County resident Roger Dwire.
"Ticks are part of life here," said Roger's wife Judy. "I never thought anything about it."
That is, she didn't think of it until she was bitten by a deer tick and discovered a spreading rash.
"It was about that big, the size of a quarter maybe and the outside was all red", said Judy.
A short time later, she started having severe joint pain.
"It just got worse and worse to the point she couldn't do anything but cry," said Roger.
"I was tested, test after test and everything would come back OK," said Judy.
Then, a friend told her to get checked for a tick-borne illness.
"She said 'Read some of this Judy' and I did and I said, 'You know, I have Lyme disease,'" she said.
Tests proved her right. Judy was stunned to find so many others in and around Brainerd had it too.
"Just seeing the people I've met and talked to … it just breaks my heart," said Judy.
"It's just unreal the amount of people that have it up here," said Roger.
Just last month Judy's husband Roger was also diagnosed with Lyme disease.
"I didn't know all my aches and pains and sore joints was caused from Lyme disease," said Roger.
"Unfortunately, the number of Lyme disease cases in Minnesota has risen over the years," said Minnesota State Health Department Epidemiologist Melissa Kemperman.
"It's about doubled since the 90s," she said.
Epidemiologists say about a quarter of those who have Lyme disease in the state picked it up around Brainerd in Crow Wing County.
"That's in part because of the risk in Crow Wing County because there's great wooded habitat and a lot of ticks there. But it's in part because that's lake country; that's where the resorts are that's where the cabins are," said Kemperman.
The state health department says Minnesota has one of the highest number of Lyme disease cases in the country. In fact, we're in the top 10.
The deer tick which carries the disease is much smaller than a wood tick and is easily overlooked.
"That's certainly dangerous. But what's even more dangerous, because it's so small, is the nymph or immature tick. And that's the size of a poppy seed," said Kemperman.
Overall, a third of deer ticks here carry Lyme disease bacteria.
"That's very concerning," said Kemperman. "That's a pretty good risk."
To reduce the risk of a bite from these disease spreading pests, experts say to use a bug repellent with up to 30 percent DEET.
Take this advice from those coping with the illness in the highest risk area: "You really need to be careful when you're out and about having fun," said Judy.
Antibiotics are used to treat Lyme disease and two other newly discovered diseases that deer ticks carry.
The humid weather last week and this week will bring out even more ticks.
For more information on the signs and symptoms and more ways to prevent Lyme Disease click on the link below.
CDC: Learn About Lyme Disease
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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