Re: CDC v.s. ILADS info

[Guest guest]

According to ILADS (International Lyme and Associated Disease Society brochure

" Top Ten Tips To Prevent Chronic Lyme Disease " -- " In the last 10 years, ticks

known to carry Lyme disease have been identified in all 50 states and

worldwide. "

[ ] Answers to CDC's Lyme Disease Knowledge Quiz

Answers to CDC's Lyme Disease Knowledge Quiz

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/lyme/quiz/

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/lyme/quiz/q1/q1_sorry.html

Although Lyme disease cases have been reported from all 50 states, these reports

reflect where the patient lives, which is not necessarily where he or she became

infected. In truth, infected ticks of the type that transmit Lyme disease are

only found in certain states. In these states without infected ticks that spread

Lyme disease, infections are usually the result of travel to a state where the

disease is common, especially states in the northeast and upper Great Lakes

regions. (Click here for a map of reported cases). Ticks transmit diseases other

than Lyme disease, so you should know how to protect yourself no matter where

you live.

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/lyme/quiz/q2/q2_sorry.html

Some people have heard that the blood test for Lyme disease is " positive in less

than 65% of cases " and believe that this applies to ALL patients and ALL stages

of disease. This is not true.

The " two-tiered " blood test measures antibodies that the human body naturally

makes to " fight off " infection. The blood is analyzed first with a test known as

ELISA or EIA. If the result is positive or borderline, then a second test, known

as a Western Blot, should be performed.

It will typically take up to several weeks after a person is infected for the

test to produce a positive result. This delay is common for antibody tests. In

particular, patients with a pink or reddish " bulls-eye " rash (erythema migrans)

may have negative test results early in the illness. However, patients who have

been ill and infected for more than a few weeks will test positive 85-100% of

the time.

If you have been ill for months or years and test negative for Lyme disease

using the current two-tier testing, it is unlikely that Lyme disease is the

cause of your symptoms.

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/lyme/quiz/q3/q3_correct.html

The only proven means of Lyme disease transmission is through the bite of a

Borrelia burgdorferi infected tick. Although you may have heard that Lyme

disease can be transmitted from person to person through breast milk or sexual

contact, there is no scientific evidence for either of these routes.

The ticks that transmit Lyme disease are very small and often go unnoticed.

Because family members usually share the same environment where infected ticks

may be present, it is possible for more than one family member to become

infected. This does not mean, however, that the disease is spread from person to

person.

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/lyme/quiz/q4/q4_correct.html

The best way to remove an attached tick is: Grasp the tick close to the skin

with tweezers and pull straight away from the skin.

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/lyme/quiz/q5/q5_sorry.html

Ticks that transmit Lyme disease can take 3 or more days to feed fully. If the

tick is infected, the chances of transmission increases with time, from 0% at 24

hours, 12% at 48 hours, 79% at 72 hours and 94% at 96 hours. This is the reason

it is important to conduct tick checks after working or recreating in tick

infected areas, removing any ticks you find promptly.