Lyme disease, Babesia down significantly in Maine so far in 2014
Tick borne diseases in “The Pine Tree State” are ever present with cases of Lyme disease, Babesia, and Anaplasmosis seen in pretty good numbers on an annual basis. In fact, the State of Maine saw are record number of Lyme disease cases in 2013, recording more than 1,375 cases in total.
Image/CDC
The good news in 2014 is that since January 1, there has only been 202 Lyme cases reported to the Maine CDC. Another relatively common tick borne disease that is down in numbers in 2014 is the parasitic infection, Babesiosis.
In 2013, the blood parasite was reported in 36 patients in Maine. To date in 2014, only four cases have been reported. However, the numbers of the bacterial tick borne infection that infects white blood cells, Anaplasmosis, remains stable compared to last year. In 2013, 94 anaplasmosis cases were reported, while so far in 2014, 52 cases were seen to date.
Related story: Maine Reports Cyclospora Cluster, First Cases Since 2010
Maine Governor Paul LePage last year signed into law a bill that requires the Maine Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to include on its publicly accessible website information about different alternatives for the treatment of Lyme disease. The bill also requires the center to include information about treatment guidelines recommended by the Infectious Diseases Society of America, which represents physicians, scientists and other health care professionals who specialize in infectious diseases.
In addition, the website must say that a negative result for a Lyme disease test doesn’t necessarily mean Lyme disease isn’t present. LD597 also mandates that patients get a copy of the results of a Lyme disease test.
LePage also declared May as Lyme Disease Awareness Month earlier this year. For more infectious disease news and information, visit and “like” the Infectious Disease News Facebook page
LISTEN: Maine CDC Director, Dr Sheila Pinette discusses Powassan virus
Looking for a job in health care? Check here to see what’s available
A summary of scientifically-validated information concerning Lyme Disease and other tick-borne diseases is available in video format that can be viewed in less than 5 minutes: “What Is Lyme Disease: An evidence-based exploration of the concepts and common medical misconceptions of Lyme disease” http://youtu.be/tX70ivbRyJ4