Fw: Urgent Update on Lyme Disease from the Health Commissioner 05/06/10

[Guest guest]

May 06, 2010

Dear Colleague,

I am writing to let you know about Virginia's upsurge in Lyme disease cases and

to share some resources. As we move forward into another spring, it is important

to remember that ticks become more active with warmer weather, increasing the

risk of tick-borne disease in your patients. While several types of tick-borne

disease (including Ehrlichiosis, Anaplasmosis, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever)

are found here, Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne infection reported in

Virginia.

Since 2000, VDH has witnessed a steady increase in the number of newly

identified Lyme disease cases. In 2007, Lyme disease increased dramatically and

has remained high since that time. This increase has followed a pattern of

progressive geographic spread of Lyme activity southward and westward from

northern regions of the state, part of an overall expansion in the eastern

United States. Most cases occur during the late spring and early summer with

illness onset most likely to occur in June, July and August.

This expansion of Lyme disease in Virginia has created an increase in public

interest and concern. Virginians in some areas of the Commonwealth have worked

with their elected officials to sponsor legislative proposals and community town

hall meetings to address some of their concerns. No Lyme disease legislative

proposals were enacted into law this year though several were proposed. The

Virginia Department of Health is actively working with these efforts to provide

sound scientific information to help inform public knowledge. Your local health

director (contact information is at http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/) is able to

update you on local community town hall meetings.

Particularly throughout this spring and summer, I encourage you to maintain a

heightened vigilance for detecting Lyme disease in your patients. Common

symptoms of Lyme disease include the following:

Lyme disease is a preventable illness. Please encourage your patients to follow

those practices that will decrease their risk of acquiring Lyme disease such as

proper clothing when outdoors, use of repellants, and prompt removal of ticks.

For more information on Lyme disease in Virginia, you can review a presentation

titled, " Lyme Disease Tracking and Prevention in Virginia " at:

http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/epidemiology/DEE/Vectorborne/HCPs.

As always, be sure to report Lyme disease to your local health department. Your

reporting is critical as it allows us to track the ongoing spread of this

infection throughout Virginia. Thank you for all you are doing to keep

Virginians healthy and active during this beautiful time of year!

Sincerely,

Remley, MD, MBA, FAAP

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