Arkansas Tickborne Illness
Support and Advocacy
Lyme In Arkansas
JUST A FEW DOCUMENTS OF PROOF OF LYME IN ARKANSAS:
(In addition to the hundreds of residents who have positive Lyme bloodwork, symptomatic, and have been diagnosed by a Doctor with Lyme Disease).
Lyme Disease Risk Assessment No. 16-07-3552-95, Little Rock Air Force
Base, Arkansas, 17-21 April 1995.
http://lymeblog.com/LDRA-USARMY83-96/100.txt
SEE PAGE 11 - LRAFB TICK INFESTATION
http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a221956.pdf
TICK CHECK - ARKANSAS / REPORTS OF LYME IN ARKANSAS BY INFECTED TICKS SUBMITTED FOR TESTING TO RESPECTED LABORATORY
(https://www.tickchek.com/stats/state/arkansas/lyme)
1993 Lyme study funded by Arkansas DOH
http://libinfo.uark.edu/aas/issues/1993v47/v47a25.pdf
Provider knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding Lyme disease in Arkansas. (lori lynn has detailed correspondence from author about this study!)
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25187225
"Although the spirochete bacterium responsible for Lyme disease has been found in deer, canines and ticks in Arkansas, the risk of acquiring this disease in Arkansas is currently considered low." --- (this is a study that covers AR in general - while stating the risk here is low - WITHOUT stating any proof or WHY they "feel" that way)
http://www.uaex.edu/publications/pdf/FSA-7047.pdf
Survey of Borreliae in ticks, canines, and white-tailed deer from Arkansas, U.S.A.
https://parasitesandvectors.biomedcentral.com/…/1756-3305-5…
CANINE REPORTS OF LYME IN ARKANSAS FROM 2015 (ONLY ONE VET LAB REPORTING) http://www.dogsandticks.com/diseases_in_your_area.php
US REPORTS OF LYME DISEASE FROM 1990 - 2014 - https://www.lymediseaseassociation.org/…/data_1990to2014det…
(Copied from ADH website)
The blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis), commonly known as a "deer tick", can transmit the organisms responsible for anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and Lyme disease. This tick is widely distributed in the northeastern and upper midwestern United States. I. scapularis larvae and nymphs feed on small mammals and birds, while adults feed on larger mammals and will bite humans on occasion. It is important to note that the pathogen that causes Lyme disease is maintained by wild rodent and other small mammal reservoirs, and is not transmitted everywhere that the blacklegged tick lives. In some regions, particularly in the southern U.S., the tick has very different feeding habits that make it an unlikely vector in the spread of human disease.
THE AR Department of Healt HAS REPEATEDLY STATED THAT THE "FEEDING HABIT OF TICKS" IN ARKANSAS IS THE REASON WHY TICKS DO NOT (OR RARELY) CARRY LYME IN ARKANSAS.
They are referring to the Western/Eastern Fence Lizard - commonly known in Arkansas as the Prairie Lizard - or the Blue-Bellied Lizard. (all slightly genetically different) This lizard may carry a protein in it's blood that cleans the lyme infected tick of the lyme causing bacteria. (There are many studies about the Western Fence Lizard , but none on similar lizards in Arkansas).
ADH claims that the ticks in Arkansas choose to feed on these certain types of lizards as their first meal, therefore, eradicating Arkansas from Lyme disease. They also say that ticks hatch out at different times here than other states. There is NO proof of either of these claims.
have been NO studies done on the lizards in Arkansas to support this theory. There have been NO studies done in Arkansas which supports their theory of our ticks choosing this particular lizard as their first meal.
THE FACT IS:
•All of our surrounding states have Lyme disease.
•The CDC consistently reported Lyme in Arkansas prior to 2005.
•There are absolutely NO studies on this "theory" at all. Not one single publication to prove what they say about the feeding habits of ticks in Arkansas - although they consistently state this as fact.
•When I spoke to the health dept, I was told me its actually just what they "FEEL" - that "perhaps" it eradicates lyme in ticks in Arkansas.
•Our population of Prairie Lizards vs. the actual tick population does not support this theory.
•Birds, mammals and insects carry Lyme disease infected ticks. These hosts migrate and travel. There are no invisible borders around the state of Arkansas!
A typical Lyme patient in Arkansas sees 10-15 Doctors before they are properly diagnosed (or even tested). During this time span, most patients become chronic in their illness.
Most seek medical care out of state with a Lyme Literate Medical Doctor (which are mostly not covered under insurance - and have long waiting periods!)
Most Arkansas Doctors refuse to treat Lyme Disease, and if they do - not for more than one month. If patients are not "cured" within that period, they must seek help out of state.
If a Doctor does treat Lyme disease beyond the initial Doxycycline (or any other unconventional method) they are in danger of losing their medical license and are very often pressured by their peers in the Medical Community.
Many Doctors we have spoken to simply will not even test or treat for Lyme Disease - in fear of being under the microscope themselves!
If a patient has the classic "bull's-eye" rash and a positive blood test that meets the CDC guidelines, most results are classified as a "FALSE POSITIVE" , or it is said it must be "STARI" - which is an UN-reportable tick borne illness carried by the Lonestar tick, and is almost idential to Lyme. (Most researchers within the Lyme Community believe STARI is just one of the many different strains of Lyme bacteria).
The Health Department's "feelings" on this is that there are more "false positives" in an area which is not endemic to Lyme Disease...
but the testing in areas that are well-known for Lyme Disease are "more accurate".
Same labs. Same tests. Same ticks.
But if you live in Arkansas... "the test is probably wrong".
Even though Arkansas' deer tick population is abundant, and we are among the highest in the nation for reported tick borne illness...
No one will admit that Lyme Disease is endemic in Arkansas.
So... the question is :
If they are claiming that Lyme is not endemic in Arkansas, and dismissing every single positive blood test is just a "false positive"..
THEN HOW WILL THE ADH AND THE ARKANSAS MEDICAL COMMUNITY BEGIN TO HELP THE INFECTED PEOPLE IN ARKANSAS AT ALL?
HOW WILL ARKANSAS EVER BE DECLARED ENDEMIC if they will not consider ALMOST ANY test as positive.
It is like not being able to get a job because you are homeless.... but being homeless because you are unable to get a job.
Someone has to step in and break the never ending cycle.