The Sacramento Bee Cal Report:
[Appeared on internet on February 19, 2000]
Lyme disease-carrying ticks found in Malibu
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Ticks carrying Lyme disease, which can lead to
arthritis or heart and nervous system disorders if left untreated, were
found along two Malibu park trails.
Five out of 12 groups of ticks collected Jan. 28 in Charmlee Park tested
positive for Lyme disease, the Los Angeles County West Vector Control
District said Friday.
"That's a pretty significant finding for Southern California," said
Robert Saviskas, executivedirector of the district's vector-borne
disease program.
He said disease-carrying ticks weren't spotted in Southern California
until last year. The first infected ticks were found about 10 miles away
from Charmlee Park, Saviskas said.
Authorities discovered the latest batch of infected ticks along the
Botony and Meadow trails.
"People working or playing outdoors in this area are advised to be extra
watchful for ticks because some of them carry the bacteria that causes
Lyme Disease or other tick-borne diseases," said Walt Keller, councilman
for Malibu.
Saviskas said people who are walking in areas with brush or tall grass
should wear pants and long-sleeved shirts and should tuck their pants
into socks or boots.
The western black-legged tick is the only tick of some 50 species found
in California that is known to transmit Lyme disease.
The tick feeds by embedding its mouth into the skin of humans or animals
and sucking blood.
The disease is most commonly contracted during the spring and early
summer.
Symptoms include a ring-like rash with a clear center, fever, fatigue
and body aches, Saviskas said.
Lyme disease, named after the Connecticut town where it was discovered,
can be treated with antibiotics.
Nearly all patients recover without complications, Saviskas said.
sacbee: Cal Report
[Note: Link no longer available on 1 March 2000]
http://www.sacbee.com/news/calreport/calrep_story.cgi?N177.HTML
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