Lyme Disease Cases Are Surging. Who Is Most At Risk?

Ticks, mosquitoes and fleas, oh my! Cases of Lyme disease are on the rise and it's been reported that blacklegged ticks are carrying some other nasty vector-borne diseases that they can transmit to humans via their bloodsucking bites. According to the World Health Organization, vectors such as ticks, mosquitoes and fleas, account for more than 17% of all infectious diseases, causing more than 700,000 deaths annually. Mosquitoes, the number one culprit worldwide, are known to spread such classic hits as malaria, dengue fever, West Nile virus disease

The Vitals team is here with the answers about how vector-borne diseases spread, and what some researchers are doing to better understand why cases are on the rise. Dr. Alok Patel chats with Dr. Christina Nelson, Medical Officer at the CDC’s Division of Vector-Borne Diseases (DVBD) to get the current “big picture” on Lyme disease, how it is transmitted and what you can do to stay safe while enjoying nature. Also, Eloise Skinner, a researcher in the Mordecai Lab at Stanford University explains how her team is using machine learning to better understand how our human footprint can be a predictor for the transmission and prevention of VBDs. Don’t worry, we will also have a little health lesson on what to do if you get bit by a tick and where to turn if you get infected.

Let’s Connect:

Find our experts and hosts:

:: Alok Patel, MD ::
Twitter: @AlokPatelMD
Instagram: @alokpatelmd

Our guests:

Dr. Christina Nelson is a Medical Officer in CDC’s Division of Vector-Borne Diseases in Fort Collins, Colorado. Dr. Nelson specializes in vector-borne bacterial diseases including plague, tularemia, and Lyme disease.

Eloise Skinner, PH.D. is a postdoctoral fellow in the Mordecai lab. Currently her research is focussed on climate change and vector-borne diseases in the Australasia-Pacific region, and developing tools for public health decision making

Want to learn more?

The World Health Organization’s list of vector-borne diseases:

Nature Article featuring the work of Eloise Skinner:

Other Vector-borne diseases ticks are transmitting:

What do if if you get bitten by a tick (CDC)

Information on the dengue vaccine:

Signs and symptoms of Lyme Disease:

Tracking tick bites in your region:

A little insight on why there isn’t a lyme disease vaccine:

Comprehensive list of diseases transmitted by ticks:

Information on EPA’s approved list of repellants:

Check out the work at the Mordecai Lab:

This episode of Vitals is licensed exclusively to YouTube.

00:00 Intro
00:54 Vector-borne diseases, by the numbers
01:59 Alok goes for a walk at Windy Hill Open Space Preserve
02:20 What is a vector and what is vector-borne disease?
03:52 What’s the deal with Lyme disease?
04:52 Climate change and Lyme disease
05:54 Everything you (didn’t) want to know about ticks and now you do…
09:10 How Eloise Skinner is using machine learning to under how VBD spread
11:37 “Get it off, get it off” How to remove a tick and what to do if bitten
13:52 How to avoid a tick bite
15:05 Close

[tazifermoniker]

I got lyme. I wore long sleeves, socks tucked in and all. I'd even have my roommate check my body when I returned. But I never used any chemicals/lotions/sprays. I must have gotten bit on my scalp or someplace else hard to find because after a few days of being sick with fever and aches my body was covered in the bullseye rash. I got rushed to the hospital and had a long recovery. This was about 5 years ago and I haven't really been the same health wise. I believe John Hopkins put out an article on chronic Lyme symptoms validating it's existence last spring. Regardless, use all precautions you can and don't think it couldn't happen to you. This might not kill you but it could change your lifestyle. Thanks PBS vitals for this video and hopefully we can get that vaccine developed or use scientists knowledge and efforts to avoid getting Lyme. Question though, is there any interest talking about chronic symptoms that can come from things like lyme? Thanks again.

[Tirani]

I've had Lyme disease three times, despite precautions every time. The first time was at a festival in Tidewater Virginia, in 2005, and it was inadequately treated; I suffered for months. Eventually, it cleared up, but not before doing damage to the vertebrae in my neck. My second case was in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, and caught early; I was treated. The third case was in suburban Maryland, walking around in my backyard after my second cervical spine surgery. I was following doctor's orders, and got Lyme disease in my backyard! It took 2 months of doxy to clear it up, but eventually it did. Lyme disease is not a joke, and I am glad it's being talked about more. Stay safe everyone.

[safaiaryu]

My mom and grandma have both been diagnosed with chronic Lyme Disease. They both lived much of their lives in Missouri, so were likely exposed there. What's interesting is that my mom started experiencing Lyme symptoms while we lived in Texas, and it was really hard to get a diagnosis - apparently doctors didn't want to bother testing for it because Lyme-carrying ticks aren't in Texas?? (Also, this was pre-Obamacare, so doctors were very hesitant to diagnose anyone with a pre-existing condition, which is fair, but...) Once Mom found that out, she went to my PCP whom I trust and very clearly established that she comes from Missouri, her mother is already diagnosed, and she is experiencing similar symptoms. The doc believed her, ran the blood test, and she was positive. So she was finally able to be treated. Lots and lots of antibiotics.

Now Mom lives in Missouri again and treatment is much easier to obtain. She's also incredibly casual about ticks??? They scare the absolute CRAP out of me (I still live in Texas, in a city besides) and I'm genuinely nervous to visit her house out in the woods for fear of getting one on me! Last time I found one, I screamed bloody murder and Mom just laughed at me. I guess her logic is, she's already got Lyme, what's it going to do? But ticks are still really gross! 😭

[tracynorris]

I was diagnosed with Lyme dz 31 yrs ago. Improperly treated with wrong antibiotic. Later diagnosed with Morgellons. And, Delusional parasitoses twice. I gave up on being helped by doctors years ago. I'm so sick and miserable. I'm 58 and nearly bedridden. My cries for help have fallen on Deaf ears, so I no longer have the energy to talk about it. I'm still treated like a head case. I'm college educated, and lost my career as an RN. I've never been wealthy, so no out of pocket money for the long term treatment plan. If anyone has any sound advice please share it. 🙏

[elizabethcasey]

We went to Gettysburg in May, and my husband and I both found ticks. They said they don't want to spray the battlefield because it will harm good bugs as well, but I think they need to do something. Neither one of us got sick, but it kind of makes me not want to go back.

[jessicah]

I got lyme disease in Central Texas. The misconception that is only happens in the Northeast kept me from getting treatment when I still had the bullseye rash. It took 11 years to get diagnosed, and I lost my 20's. I had to drop out of college. I have chronic pain, joint, and nerve damage. Doctors here still believe lyme disease doesn't happen in Texas. It happens in all 50 states.

[lunacouer]

Thank you for covering this! It's really important info to get out.

I only wish you'd covered more of the complications of Lyme Disease and how hard it can be to live with if it transitions to an auto-immune disease. Because a lot of people may not notice a tick if it naturally falls off, or correlate their symptoms with a tick bite, they won't see the doctor and get the antibiotics. So many people end up with these auto-immune conditions that honestly, a lot of doctors dismiss, especially in women.

[OvertheRiverandThroughtheWoods]

Unfortunately, we have personal experience with another vector-borne disease, Typhus (transmitted from small mammals to fleas to humans via flea dirt as described in the video for cat scratch fever). It may be "rare" and "tropical" but it happens even in North Texas, where it can put you in the ICU with sepsis (and yet is not likely to be diagnosed correctly).

[jonathanrichardson]

I'm surprised your graphic doesn't include birds and small mammals like mice, squirrells and rabbits which are huge carriers and movers of ticks.

[Gina-dnxm]

The CDC needs new leadership. Undiagnosed lyme will keep you sick. Most people are totally unaware of how dangerous lyme disease can be. I have been on antibiotics for 6 years. My current lyme disease doctor from New York indicated that there is really no cure for late stage lyme. I now no longer hike, but sadly, I'm too sick to hike.

[hakunayo]

Why can't the vaccine that was approved for Lyme disease in the 90s and early aughts not be brought back, if it was safe and effective?

[bretthewitt]

If you suspect you have Lyme, get treatment immediately! The longer you wait, the more damage is done. The damage is irreversible. Dont play games, get treated! I got it and waited to go to the doctor. I knowingly had it for about 3 mos, because I was working a lot. Big mistake! I still have symptoms over 20 years later!

[rubecork]

Found a tick on my shin a few days ago. Was attached about 8 hours. I put mineral silver water on it, and within a couple of minutes it was raising its whole body like it wanted out desperately. I would have liked to see if it could get out by itself, BUT I didn't want to wait, so I pulled it out with tweezers. I didn't expect it to want to pull out; I only applied the water because silver water is known to be great in killing bacteria and infection.

[DarrenChen]

Story well done! I like the actionable steps at the end.

[BeaArk]

Thanks for talking about Lyme. So many lost everything .

[sunspot]

Been unwell for an entire year now after a known bite from a lyme-carrying deer tick. I've tried a number of different antibiotics, but still nothing has worked so far. I need proper testing and treatment, fast.

[skybluskyblueify]

This episode reminded me to buy flea and tick liquid for my 3 dogs. Thanks!

[robsledgegroupie]

What about chiggers? Those also got me when I lived down south ☹

[susandoerr]

what herb besides rosemary, garlic etc keeps them away. i would make a dusting powder for my outdoor clothes while in brush and use it and that might help repel

[lward]

Part of the reason I clicked on this was in the thumbnail pic, it showed a record of Lyme Disease areas - yet MA was completely blank! I live in MA and Lyme Conn is in the next State over so that makes no sense. Did I miss the explanation as to why? no data? MA is magical? (It is)