8/1/2011 Health Notes

The Lyme Disease Epidemic in Minnesota and Nationwide

Kinshasha talked with Dr. Leslie Vilansky and Dr. Betty Maloney about the short and long term consequences of Lyme Disease.

LYME DISEASE IN MINNESOTA

1 in 3 deer ticks carry Borrelia burgdoreferi (Bb), the bacterial cause of Lyme disease. These ticks may carry other bacteria and parasites (referred to as co-infections), which complicate the clinical picture.

Once thought to be found only in wooded areas, deer ticks have expanded their range and are now found across Minnesota, including the 7-county metro.

Lyme disease has increased 450% in the past 10 years. The state ranks 8th in the nation for reported cases; in 2008, 1,282 cases were reported to the CDC. Due to under-reporting, the CDC estimates that the actual number of surveillance cases is likely to be 10 times more, meaning MN probably had over 12,800 cases in 2008.