[Ocees] Field Biologists: Lyme Disease on Rapid Rise

[Ridgely, Ryan]

Frightening to here that it’s on our door step.

A very nice, active older woman, who was the “mom” of the mom and pop liquor store in RI (mentioned in Family Guy, no less) where I worked one summer and a few OU winter breaks many moons ago, contracted Lyme disease. It was horrid to watch what it did to her. She went from running marathons to needing every joint in her body replaced one by one over a period of a few years.

Not being a field work person anymore, I dunno if there are any clothing/field-wear “protocols” we could suggest here at OU. I used to help out a bit in the field when I was an undergrad at U of RI in the 90’s… and we’d do basic things like tucking pants into socks, etc.

-Ryan

-----------------------
Ryan Ridgely
Research Associate
Witmer Lab
Dept. Biomedical Sciences
Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
Athens, Ohio 45701 USA
Personal: http://www.ohio.edu/people/ridgely/
WitmerLab: http://www.ohio.edu/witmerlab
OUµCT: http://www.oucom.ohiou.edu/ou-microct/
Paleontology at OU: http://www.ohio.edu/paleo/
email:ridgely at ohio.edu




From: OCEES [mailto:ocees-bounces at listserv.ohio.edu] On Behalf Of Williams, Kelly
Sent: Saturday, March 11, 2017 9:08 AM
To: McCarthy, Brian <mccarthy at ohio.edu>
Cc: ocees at listserv.ohio.edu
Subject: Re: [Ocees] Field Biologists: Lyme Disease on Rapid Rise

Hi all,

We do have to be vigilant in Ohio. I know of several cases in Ross County over the past several years. The Ohio Department of health link below shows cases reported in OH from 1986 to 2016. I don't think all Physician offices report to ODH especially when they treat due to symptoms (e.g., bullseye) versus a positive test result. I emphasize twice daily tick checks to everyone I work with and we keep a tick jar in our lab to encourage everyone to check after a field day.
https://www.odh.ohio.gov/-/media/ODH/ASSETS/Files/bid/zdp/Diseases/lyme/lymemap.pdf?la=en

Enjoy!
Kelly Williams

On Mar 10, 2017, at 10:44 AM, McCarthy, Brian <mccarthy at ohio.edu<mailto:mccarthy at ohio.edu>> wrote:
Field biologists:

Thought I would share this update with everyone. The prevalence of Lyme-infested ticks is on a rapid rise in the northeast US. Working in NJ, I got Lyme disease right off the bat in the late 1980s. This does not appear to be an immediate threat for those working in Ohio, but Lyme-infested ticks are lined up all along the eastern side of the Ohio River. I expect a strong influx in next few years.

Best wishes,
Brian

Link to article: http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/03/06/518065660/if-you-get-bit-by-a-lyme-infested-tick-here-are-5-tips utm_source=npr_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=20170307&utm_campaign=npr_email_a_friend&utm_term=storyshare<http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/03/06/518065660/if-you-get-bit-by-a-lyme-infested-tick-here-are-5-tips?utm_source=npr_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=20170307&utm_campaign=npr_email_a_friend&utm_term=storyshare>



Brian C. McCarthy, Ph.D.
Assoc Dean and Prof of Forest Ecology
College of Arts & Sciences
207 Wilson Hall Admin
Ohio University
Athens, OH  45701-2979  USA
T: 740-593-2979
M: 740-707-9017
E: mccarthy at ohio.edu<mailto:mccarthy at ohio.edu>
Skype: BCMcCarthyOHIO

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