When I hear about Lyme Disease, I think of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont. But recently seven counties in Alabama have been declared endemic for Lyme. In fact, the Alabama Department of Public Health confirmed 38 cases of Lyme disease in 2016, compared to just nine cases in 2008 and two in 2010.
A report issued by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in 2015 stated that Lyme is the fifth most commonly reported nationally notifiable disease. While the Northeast is still the epicenter of the tick-borne illness, documented cases are on the rise across the country. The sunny South is no exception.
The tiny menace produces more than 30,000 new documented cases a year. But these numbers are deceiving since the disease is often difficult to diagnose and its symptoms can mimic other conditions, including multiple sclerosis (MS), fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and lupus. The reality is something much different — and the number is likely much larger.
Of course, Alabama has a long way to go before it can claim top ranking for Lyme. The CDC reports that Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York had the highest number of confirmed cases in the country 2015, with almost 300 in that tri-state area. Between 2005 and 2015, in New York State alone, there were 41,299 reported Lyme cases. Those are bragging rights, of course, that no one wants. But heightened awareness in northern states may fuel more research dollars to find effective treatments for those who contract the disease.
In the meantime, the CDC published an article last month that voiced concern about the risk of serious bacterial infections from extended treatment with antibiotics and immunoglobulin therapies. The report highlighted five cases of patients diagnosed with Lyme and treated with IV immunoglobulin whose prognosis worsened after treatment. Medical complications varied, but in each case, the patient was subjected to intensive treatment to combat the effects of what was hoped to be relief for the symptoms of Lyme. The CDC warned against the use of these methods, particularly in cases where the treatment is prescribed over an extended period.
No doubt, this announcement is being met with frustration on the part of the community of people with Lyme who are faced with chronic and often debilitating symptoms, and few treatments. But an answer may be on the horizon.
After years of struggling to get funding for research and — ultimately — effective treatments, legislators in those northern states may be making an impact.
