The Department of Health this week told the House Health and Human Services Committee the incidence of Lyme disease, carried by deer ticks, has increased dramatically as a result of the growth in the deer population and development encroaching into forested areas of the state.

“At the beginning of the decade in 1990, a total of 685 cases were reported statewide, 50-percent in the southeast comer of the state. By 1999, that number had increased to 2,813 cases, with 86-percent of the cases in the southeast,” said Michael Huff, Deputy Secretary for Health Planning and Assessment from the Department of Health.

“Growing populations in high-risk locations (especially outer suburbs encroaching into forested areas), growth in the deer population in the state, and geographic spread of the organism and the tick vector are all factors that have truly increased the incidence of Lyme disease in the 1990s,” said Huff.

A copy of Mr. Huff’s testimony is available online.

Pat Smith, of the Lyme Disease Association, testified in support of House Bill 798 (Phillips-R-Northumberland) that would establish a Lyme and Related Tick-Borne Disease Task Force and outlined a series of challenges facing indivuduals with Lyme diease, including accurate diagnosis and treatment.

Smith noted that only 43,454 cases of the disease have been reported in Pennsylvania in the last 16 years, but according the U.S. Centers for Disease Control the estimates for Pennsylvania should be in the range of 434,540.

Montie Peters related the story of his son Matthew’s five year struggle with Lyme diease and the impact it had on his family and friends.

Tresa J. Britch related her experience with Lyme disease since 1992.

Lyme disease, if left untreated, can result in bouts of arthritis with severe joint pain and swelling, chronic neurological complaints such as shooting pains, numbness, tingling in the hands or feet and problems with concentration and short term memory. Even with treatment, Lyme disease symptoms can last months to years after treatment with antibiotics.

The first sign of the infection is usually a circular rash called erythema migrans that occurs from 3-30 days after a tick bites. A distinctive feature of the rash is that it gradually expands over a period of several days and can result in a bull’s-eye type appearance.

Steps to prevent Lyme disease include using insect repellent, removing ticks promptly and taking steps like integrated pest management around the home.

The chairs of the Health and Human Services Committee are Rep. Oliver (D-Philadelphia) and Rep. Kenny (R-Montgomery).

For more information, visit the Department of Health’s Lyme disease webpage.

9/14/2007