May 16, 2022

Lyme Disease and other Tick-borne Pathogens

Lyme Disease

Each year, several Lake County residents are infected with Lyme Disease. In 2020 and 2021, Lake County had 25 and 31 human cases, respectively. Infections are typically identified after exposure in Lake County or travel to Wisconsin or other states identified by CDC as high incidence states for Lyme Disease¹.

Lyme Disease is the leading tick-borne disease in the United States and is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi associated with Ixodes scapularis, more commonly referred to as the Deer or Blacklegged tick. Statewide tick surveillance, including local surveillance in Lake County, indicates that 30–40% of Deer ticks test positive for Borrelia burgdorferi in the region. Humans, when infected, may experience symptoms of fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic skin rash called erythema migrans (EM). If left untreated, infection may spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system. Two-tiered laboratory testing is recommended and must be performed with validated methods². Most cases of early Lyme disease EM rash can be treated with doxycycline successfully. Tick testing if the tick is present, is not required to initiate treatment ^{3, 4}.

Other Tick-borne Diseases

There are other tick-borne diseases that have been detected in Illinois (Table). In Lake County, Deer ticks have been detected with Borrelia Burgodorferi, Borrelia miyamotoi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Babesia microti. The Gulf Coast Tick, most recently identified in DuPage County, has been detected with Rickettsia parkeri in Central and Southern Illinois. As warmer weather approaches and Lake County residents spend more time outdoors, providers should be mindful of these various tick-borne diseases.

Table. Illinois Tick Species and tick-borne disease agents of public health concern identified in tick surveillance.1

Training/CMEs/CEUs

In collaboration with University of Illinois, a survey administered to providers in Lake County suggested a deficiency of tick-borne diseases training for providers. The CDC offers free CMEs/CEUs on Lyme Disease This is a 4-module training, and you will need to create an account to receive CMEs or CEUs⁵. In addition, there is a Lyme Disease update that CDC COCA offers⁶.  CDC also offers Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever continuing education⁷.

Please call the Lake County Health Department Communicable Disease program at 847-377-8130 to report cases of tickborne or mosquito-borne diseases or the Environmental Health program at 847-377-8009 with questions about tick identification and prevention.

References

1. FAQ-Q: Is it true that you can get Lyme disease anywhere in the US? https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/faq/index.html, Tickborne Diseases of the United States; A Reference Manual for Healthcare Providers https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/tickbornediseases/TickborneDiseases-P.pdf
2. Lyme testing: https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/diagnosistesting/index.html, https://www.aphl.org/aboutAPHL/publications/Documents/ID-2021-Lyme-Disease-Serologic-Testing-Reporting.pdf
3. CDC Lyme treatment: https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/treatment/index.html
4. CDC Lyme Disease Home: https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/index.html
5. CME/CEU: https://www.train.org/cdctrain/training_plan/5412 ; https://www.train.org/illinois/course/1093558/ (4 part training, Course search: WB4328, WB4329, WB4330, WB4380)
6. COCA CEU: https://www.train.org/cdctrain/course/1097581/
7. CME/CEU: https://www.cdc.gov/rmsf/resources/module.html (Course Search: WB4219)

Lake County Health Department
3010 Grand Avenue
Waukegan, IL 60085
(847) 377-8000
health.lakecountyil.gov