Rock Island Today

Rep. Dan Swanson (R-Woodhull) is reminding his constituents to check for ticks when returning from an outing as a way to prevent Lyme disease.

“Lyme disease is real in Illinois,” Swanson wrote on Facebook. “Check for ticks when returning from mushroom hunting or better yet, treat your pants, shoes, and coat with permethrin to protect yourself.”

The CDC said the Lyme disease bacteria kills its host by entering the heart.

Lyme disease was first recognized as a disease in the United States in 1975. The condition is caused by a bacterium, which is passed from infected deer ticks.

The CDC also said Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States.

“Although we are exposed to ticks year-round, they are most active during warmer months,” Alana Bartolai, ecological services program coordinator for the health department, said in a statement, according to NBC5 Chicago. “Ticks may be small in size, but we still need to protect ourselves, our families, and pets against the diseases they can carry, especially Lyme disease.”

In his Facebook post, Swanson shared a link to a scientific article shared by Project Lyme. That article explains that "Ten to 20% of antimicrobial-treated Lyme disease patients display post treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS)."

The CDC listed symptoms of Lyme carditis such as fever and body aches.

“If you experience fever, headache, fatigue, or a rash after a tick bite, please consult your healthcare provider for possible testing and treatment,” Dr. Sana Ahmed, medical epidemiologist for the Lake County Health Department, said, according to NBC5 Chicago. “If left untreated, some tick-borne diseases can cause serious illnesses and may be fatal.”

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has created the Tick Born-Disease Working Group. The group’s authorization runs through December 2022, and it reviews research and federal activities related to all tick-borne diseases. The group provides a summary of its findings and any recommendations regarding changes or improvements to such findings to the HHS Secretary and Congress every two years.