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Article: CONSULTATION; What Is the Risk Of Lyme Disease?
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- December 7, 1999
- Author:
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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Q. We recently moved to the Washington area from the Midwest.
Before we left, some relatives told us that we should be concerned
about Lyme disease. Should we? How big is the risk? How harmful is
Lyme disease? Is there a way to prevent it?
A. Lyme disease is on the rise. Since 1982, when the U.S. Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) started keeping track, it
has increased 25-fold. Each year, more than 12,000 Americans develop
Lyme disease. To keep from getting it, you can take some preventive
steps. You can also try a new vaccine.
Lyme disease is spread by infected deer ticks. However, you don't
get Lyme disease from just a simple, quick bite. To spread the
infection, a tick ...