HEALTH NOTES
Lyme disease is the most common insect-borne disease in the United States, with over 16,000 U.S. cases per year. It is transmitted through the bite of infected deer ticks, which attach themselves to the skin to feed on the victim's blood. Symptoms in early stages include a "bull's eye" rash, fever, fatigue, and achy muscles and joints. If left untreated, Lyme disease can become a severe infection days or weeks after the bite, with symptoms ranging from seizures to congestive heart failure to memory loss. The disease can be treated successfully at any stage, but symptoms will linger for much longer if they are allowed to progress to the later stages before being treated.
A vaccine is now available for the prevention of Lyme disease, administered in three doses. The best thing, as usual, is to prevent the disease altogether. Travelers to tick-infested areas should try to avoid tick bites by wearing long sleeves and long pants with cuffs tucked into the socks. Checking your body daily for ticks is also an essential preventative measure, as Lyme disease can only be transmitted after the tick has been attached for at least 24 hours. A tick should be removed with tweezers, pinching as close to the head as possible to avoid crushing the body.
For questions and comments about Worldtravelcenter.com, its World Travel Health newsletter, or its travel companion jetStream, contact Laura Bauer:
laura@worldtravelcenter.com
Phone: 1-800-234-1862
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