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Connecticut warns against return of Lyme disease

Updated: 2009-07-01 01:15:06 CST Category: Lyme Disease

by Francis Ma

The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) warned the public that the return of warm weather means the return of the threat of Lyme disease and urged people to take precautionary measures to prevent being affected.

"With the summer here, many people will be spending their time outdoors, increasing their risk for Lyme disease," said DPH Commissioner Dr J. Robert Galvin. "By taking a few relatively simple precautions, people can still enjoy the outdoors and decrease their chances of being infected."

Lyme disease is caused by a bacterial infection caught from the bite of an infected tick. Last year, there were 3,896 cases of Lyme disease in the state according to the DPH.

Left untreated, Lyme disease infection can cause neurologic and cardiac complications. Most patients recover and the CDC says that patients treated with antibiotics in the early stages of the disease usually recover rapidly and completely after only a few weeks. Early treatment has a higher success rate.

Several forms of laboratory testing for Lyme disease are available, and the CDC recommends blood tests for Lyme disease, which measure antibodies made in response to the infection.

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