Lyme disease is still high in February - 50% in DC area

A new report for February 2009 of the results from one of the nation's largest labs (Antech) finds that new cases of Lyme disease is still a major medical problem afflicting many pets in the DC area despite the colder weather.  Antech has reported that 50% of all Lyme disease tests sent from veterinarians in the DC area come back positive.  This doesn't mean the pet actually has Lyme, but has been exposed to the deadly disease and is at much greater risk of contracting the disease.

 

Loudoun County Health Department has noted that the incidence of Lyme is 20 times greater in Loudoun than for the rest of Virginia:  http://www.loudoun.gov/Default.aspx?tabid=726&zoom_highlight=lyme

 

The symptoms of Lyme disease in pets includes:

lameness, lethargy, fever and many others (listed here at Lyme Disease Foundation)

 

The US Center for Disease Control has an information page on Lyme disease here: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/Lyme/ (A pet with Lyme disease may be in an area where their owner may have also been exposed.)

 

Ehrlichia positive tests are at 23%, as well as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.