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Lyme Disease in Washington State
Lyme and tick borne disease information for Washington State is of poor quality.
A study of tick distribution was done in 1990. Though it identified approximate locations of the types of ticks found, an analysis of ticks for diseases was never done.
This map, no longer available, essentially showed the distribution of the Ixodes pacificus tick (the primary Lyme disease carrier) throughout the region west of the Cascade Mountains. A facsimile of this map is included under “Maps” below. Normally, over time and without intervention, tick populations can be expected to increase both in numbers and in geographic distribution.Yet, even without a tick disease analysis or any supporting data, the Washington
State Department of Health continues to state Lyme disease is rare or absent in
Washington. Also, the importance of the study on Lyme disease transmitted by the
Ixodes angustus tick (referenced below) should be noted. This tick has wide distribution
in the Far West ranging from Alaska to the desert southwest. The Washington State
1990 tick distribution study showed this tick present in the semi-arid area of Pullman
in eastern Washington.
MapsTick distribution in Washington State – 1990 study https://kaiserpapers.com/lyme/1990-lyme-study-washington.html
Mitochondrial DNA sequence variation in Ixodes pacificus http://www.nature.com/hdy/journal/v83/n4/full/6886110a.html
Note; Examines genetic variation in tick populations of western states. Map of areas studied - http://www.nature.com/hdy/journal/v83/n4/fig_tab/6886110f1.html#figure-title
Mapping the national distribution of blacklegged ticks in 1998 http://wildlifehealth.tennessee.edu/lyme_gradient/map.htm
Where tick-borne diseases are found (from IDEXX a veterinarian testing laboratory) http://www.dogsandticks.com/
diseases_in_your_area.php State provided information
Lyme Disease - a Monograph and Guide for Washington Physicians https://kaiserpapers.com/lyme/pdfs/Lyme Disease WA Physician Guide Spach 1993-1.pdf Note; Much of this information is obsolete, incomplete, and incorrect. For example, the statement that the EM rash occurs in 60%-80% of those infected has been proven wrong. Many symptoms of Lyme disease are not listed, such as serious cardiac complications. The treatment guidelines are inadequate.
Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases in Washington
Washington State Department of Health – Notifiable Conditions http://www.doh.wa.gov/PublicHealthandHealthcareProviders/NotifiableConditions.aspx
Tickborne Disease in Washington State - British Columbia Zoonotic Disease Conference - 2010 This presentation has some updated information and maps. However, it is not complete and the "official" statistics given do not represent reality. The most encouraging piece of information is the newly awarded grant to collect and test ticks. The focus will be for Ixodes pacificus ticks and Lyme disease on the west side of the Cascade Range in Washington. Hopefully, this study will be done in a competent manner using the right tests at the right laboratories. Otherwise, the results will be inaccurate and misleading. http://www.bccdc.ca/NR/
rdonlyres/94E3B61F-BA93-43B2- Studies8FA2-EAA916857FD8/0/ TickborneDisinWANMH.pdf Is Ixodes (ixodiopsis) angustus a vector of Lyme disease in Washington State? http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2741454
Vector competence of Ixodes angustus (Acari: Ixodidae) for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10823359
Babesiosis in Washington State: a new species of Babesia? http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8328736
Infection with a babesia-like organism in northern California http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7816065
Pathology of acute fatal babesiosis in hamsters experimentally infected with the WA-1 strain of Babesia http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8642781
Tick-borne relapsing fever in the Pacific Northwest: an underdiagnosed illness? http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7415171
Outbreak of tick-borne relapsing fever in Spokane County, Washington http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/5394422
Tick-borne relapsing fever in the northwestern United States and southwestern Canada http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9455520
Acute respiratory distress syndrome in persons with tickborne relapsing fever-- three states, 2004-2005 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17947965
Fatal spirochetosis due to a relapsing fever-like Borrelia sp. In a northern spotted owl http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11838214
Geographic correlation of schizophrenia to ticks and tick-borne encephalitis http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7701281
Tick paralysis: 33 human cases in Washington State, 1946-1996 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10585792
Tick paralysis--Washington, 1995. From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8602132
A newly identified intraerythrocytic Babesia-like organism, WA1, and its relatives were recently shown to be infectious for humans in the western United States (1989) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC107933/
News articles
There are a number of news articles on Lyme disease in Washington State both west and east of the Cascades. Some are only available on a pay-per-view basis.
UNDETECTED LYME DISEASE CAN MAKE LIFE MISERABLE, July 6, 1988 http://www.seattlepi.com/archives/1988/8801190337.asp Stored at: https://kaiserpapers.com/lyme/news/undetected-lyme.html
First Lyme disease case reported in Kittitas County, July 28, 1989 http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=izkQAAAAIBAJ&sjid= WY8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6914,3118567&dq=lyme+disease+washington+state&hl=en
Lyme disease suspected on the Palouse, March 9, 1990 http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gE4tAAAAIBAJ&sjid= mNAFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2279,1323270&dq= lyme+disease+washington+state&hl=en
Support groups
Washington Online Lyme Support is source for information and support for people with Lyme and other tick-borne diseases living in Washington. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WashingtonLyme Seattle Lyme Support Group Meets second Saturday of every month, from 2:30pm-4:30pm at the Shoreline Library Contact: Joy Scheibner snoodledoo@yahoo.com Bainbridge Island Lyme Disease Support Group: Meets 1st Saturday of the month, 1:00-3:00 pm. Call Cory: 206-201-3313 for directions, information.
Pierce/Kitsap Lyme Support Group: meets at Key Center Library in Lakebay, WA, the 3rd Saturday of every month, from 1-3pm. Email: Willo at midnightdawn@gmail.com for more info.
Portland Support Group email Portland Lyme Disease Support (Serves SW Washington as well) Email: portland@oregonlyme.org Dave Johnson 503-625-7033
FOR REFERENCE: Geographic Distribution of Ticks in the United States - CDC Maps 2012 http://www.cdc.gov/ticks/geographic_distribution.html