Lyme disease is anything but a passing ‘fad’
Is Lyme disease ‘the latest fad?’ The short answer is no.
Lyme and tick-borne diseases are much more prevalent than the confirmed/probable numbers would have you believe. Many cases are not counted in the confirmed and probable numbers. Many cases are being misdiagnosed; and many cases are not being diagnosed.
In 2016 there were 327 cases (161 confirmed and 166 probable) of Lyme disease in Nova Scotia. There were 254 cases in 2015 and 115 cases in 2014 and this steady climb is even with the rigid guidelines to diagnose a confirmed/probable case. Based on calls and emails received to date in 2017, I would say that the number of cases will be considerably higher. This has been a very bad year for ticks.
The Department of Health and Wellness has updated the Lyme Disease estimated risk areas and now advises, “Although there are areas of the province where the risk of finding blacklegged ticks is higher, there is a chance of finding blacklegged ticks anywhere in the province.” There are areas of higher concentration, but those areas are steadily growing in size.
A number of co-infections have been found in blacklegged ticks. Dog (wood) ticks have also now been found to potentially be carrying a variety of illnesses. Illnesses such as babesiosis, bartonella, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, anaplasmosis, and others, have been found in ticks in this province.
As well, borrelia miyamotoi has been found in ticks in Nova Scotia. This is an illness with Lyme-like symptoms but is not covered by the present ELISA/Western Blot.
It seems like more and more people are speaking up about Lyme and tick borne-diseases leaving some to call it the “latest fad.” As more becomes known about tick-borne diseases people are finally being diagnosed and treated, many after numerous years of searching for answers. Some, such as Kris Kristofferson, were initially misdiagnosed as Lyme and tick-borne diseases can mimic many other illnesses such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, early onset Alzheimers, rheumatoid arthritis, MS, ALS, irritable bowel, etc.
Over 50,000 people across Canada have signed a petition asking the federal government to improve upon the Lyme Action Plan. Many have provided comments that really need to be read. It is an issue all across the country but Nova Scotia is one of three provinces with the highest number of cases. If you want to sign the petition, or just read the comments - https:// www.change.org/p/minister-petitpastaylor-ticking-Lyme-bomb-in-canadafix-canada-s-Lyme-action-plan-now.
Although the Province of Nova Scotia has considerable information online regarding ticks, Lyme and some co-infections, the statement “...the risk of acquiring Lyme disease remains low in the province” continues to be used in information that is being disseminated. The risk of acquiring Lyme disease is actually quite high, but the ability to be adequately diagnosed is quite low. If one does not see the tick bite and/or does not get a bull’s eye rash, the ability to receive a proper and timely diagnosis in this province is severely limited.
Lyme is supposed to be a clinical diagnosis, with a blood test being supplemental; however, most doctors are not aware of the myriad symptoms that are possible and, to add to the equation, the symptoms of the many co-infections that can also be transmitted are unknown. This leaves many people struggling with steadily increasing health issues with no definitive diagnosis.
With Nova Scotia having a high rate of many autoimmune illnesses, long wait lists for knee and hip replacements, many being diagnosed with irritable bowel, gluten sensitivities, MS, ALS, COPD, etc., is it not time to take a serious look at this issue?
Why does Nova Scotia have a high rate of a number of illnesses with similar symptoms to Lyme?
With Fall being prime time for adult blacklegged ticks, we all need to ensure that Doctors don’t consider Lyme and tick-borne diseases just “the latest fad.”