Background on recent Lyme disease research
Researchers used two major sources of data in their work, tracking human Lyme disease incidents as reported to the CDC. They would also use scientific studies conducted in the Midwest that looked for the ticks that transmit the Lyme pathogen. “We found that three landscape features were really predictive of the arrival of Lyme disease,” Allan said. “The amount of forest cover in the county, proximity to a county where Lyme disease is already established, and the idea that riverways are kind of these conduits for dispersal of Lyme disease.” The model predicts seven Illinois counties where the black-legged tick this year could impact. These counties were namely Kane, Whiteside, Adams, Pike, Scott, Calhoun, and Moultrie. “Education efforts tend to be one of our best strategies for preventing Lyme disease cases,” Allan said. “Being able to tell people that there’s Lyme disease risk in an area and that they should take preventative measures.” In addition to the seven counties in Illinois, the researchers identified 35 additional counties in the Midwest. These are possible impact points where black-legged ticks have expectations of detection by the end of 2021. The model reveals that there are a number of counties in the Midwest where Lyme disease is established but not reported yet. Allan says the information also could be very useful for physicians in those areas. “That can actually inform decision-making by physicians,” Allan said. “Lyme disease can be challenging to diagnose, and so knowing that there are ticks nearby that can transmit Lyme disease to patients can help physicians with those diagnoses.”Perform tick checks while in woods to avoid the disease
If you’re in an area where the tick is present, Allan recommends using repellents. He also recommends performing tick checks after being in the woods. “Lyme disease is effectively an invasive disease in Illinois because the tick and the pathogen have become established here,” Allan said. “For us as scientists, it was fortunate we were working where this exact invasion process was playing out. It allowed us to document what was happening in a familiar landscape and then extend our findings throughout the region where similar things were occurring in other states nearby.” Reporting by Scot Bertram. Portions of this article were edited to meet SEO requirements.The Center Square -- formerly known as Watchdog.org and the Illinois News Network -- and their reporters represent 18 states across the United States as the taxpayers' watchdog, exposing the way government really works.