BALTIMORE, Md, A recent
collaborative study involving
seven state and federal agencies
shows the bacterium that causes
Lyme disease has been found
throughout the state of Maryland,
with the exception of the four wes
ternmost counties and Caroline
County on the Eastern Shore.
The study, entitled the “1989
Maryland Deer Tick Survey,”
involved the efforts of the Mary
land Cooperative Extension Ser
vice, the Maryland Department of
Agriculture (MDA), the Maryland
Department of Health and Mental
Hygiene (DHMH), the Maryland
Department of Natural Resources
(DNR), the United States Army
Environmental Hygiene Activity-
North, the Centers for Disease
Control (CDC), and the Universi
ty of Maryland. Funding for the
study was provided by all 23
Maryland counties as they all par
ticipated in the study.
Lyme disease is transmitted by
the deer tick a very small
arthropod that is hard to detect,
unlike the larger and more com
monly recognized wood tick. An
immature deer tick is so small, it is
not much larger than the period at
the end of this sentence. Fully
engorged (fed) females may be
larger than a kernel of com.
In November, 1989 the colla
borative study began with the col
lection of deer ticks to determine
their distribution throughout the
state. The ticks were collected
from deer brought into a desig
nated DNR checking station in
each county during the state’s deer
hunting season. They were than
Lyme Disease Found Throughout Md.
analyzed for the bacterium caus
ing Lyme disease.
Deer ticks were found in each
county except Garrett and
Washington, Tliey were heavily
abundant in the counties surround
ing the Chesapeake Bay, mod
erately abundant in central Mary
land, and least abundant in the
Western counties.
Lyme disease bacterium was
isolated from deer ticks in every
county except Garrett, Allegany,
Washington, Frederick, and
Caroline.
“This shouldn’t give Marylan
ders living in those areas the
impression that Lyme disease
can’t be contracted in those coun
ties,” said Adele Wilzack, secret
ary of DHMH. “Although the risk
in the western part of the state may
be less, residents in those areas
should take efforts to avoid tick
bites.”
“The 1989 study will give us
crucial baseline information to
evaluate future tick surveys and to
monitor the spread of the deer tick
in Maryland,” said Craig S. Oliv
er, Ph.D., director, Maryland
Cooperative Extension Service,
who has been involved in the tick
survey since its inception.
“This project is an excellent
example of many state, county,
and federal agencies working
together to assess the potential
health risks of Lyme disease to
people in Maryland. I am pleased
with the efforts of all people
involved in the cooperative pro
ject,” said Wayne A. Cawley Jr.,
Maryland secretary of agriculture.
The deer tick distribution found
in the study corresponds to the
pattern of reported human cases of
Lyme disease in Maryland. The
DHMH recorded 138 cases of
Lyme disease in Maryland in
1989. Eighteen cases were
reported in Baltimore County, fol
lowed by Montgomery County
with 16, Anne Arundel with 14,
and Charles with 13. Kent and
Queen Anne’s Counties each
reported 11 cases; Calvert and
Prince George’s Counties each
reported 8 cases. Seven cases were
reported in Cecil County, 6 in Bal
timore City, and 4 in Harford
County. Dorchester, Frederick,
Howard, and Saint Mary’s Coun
ties each reprated 3 cases while
Caroline, Talbot, Wicomico, and
Worcester Counties each reported
2 cases. One case each was
reported in Carroll and Washing
ton Counties.
So far, in 1990, about 10 cases
of Lyme disease have been
reported in Maryland.
Personal protective measures
remain the best means of reducing
the risk of Lyme disease. These
measures include;
• Use a tick repellent containing
permethrin on clothing as directed
on the label.
• Wear light-colored clothing to
make detection of ticks easier.
■ Tuck pant legs into socks or
tape pant legs to top of boots to
prevent ticks from getting under
clothing.
• Make frequent “tick checks”
and remove ticks promptly.
Carefully remove attached ticks
with fine tweezers, grasping the
tick as close to the skin as possible
and pulling firmly. Disinfect the
bite with antiseptic and save the
tick for future reference. Note the
date of the bite on a calendar in
case symptoms develop.
Early symptoms of Lyme dis
ease may include a reddish
expanding rash at the site of the
tick bite and/or flu-like symptoms
such as headache, fever, chills,
muscle, or joint aches. Anyone
developing symptoms following a
tick bite should consult a physi
cian promptly.
Also, perform frequent tick
checks on your pets, because dogs
and other animals can contract
Lyme disease. They cannot, how-
4-H Natural Resources Camp Set
COLLEGE PARK, Md.
Earth Day 1990 is over, but Mary
land youngsters age 12 through 18
will have an opportunity to con
tinue their environmental educa
tion at the 4-H natural resources
summer camp scheduled July 2
through 6.
The camp, sponsored by the
Maryland Cooperative Extension
Service (MCES), will be held at
the Rocks 4-H Camp north of Bel
Air in Harford County.
“Our goal is to make learning
about the environment fun,” said
Bob Tjaden, a regional natural
resources specialist with MCES.
“The camp agenda is based on the
planning committee’s philosophy
of ‘tell me. I’ll forget; show me, I
may remember, but involve me,
and I’ll understand.’”
Involvement for the campers
Lancaster Farming Saturday, May 12,1990-D5
ever, pass the disease on to
humans.
Lyme disease can be treated
with antibiotics. In most cases,
early treatment will prevent the
development of significant car
diac, neurologic, and arthritic
problems.
Most tick bites occur from
April to October when immature
stages of the deer tick are active.
Deer ticks are usually found in
woods and brushy areas.
For more information on Lyme
disease, call your physician, veter
inarian, county extension agent, or
local or state public health
officials.
will include tubing down Deer
Creek, exploring wildlife habitats,
measuring and determining the
age of trees, conducting water
quality tests, and hiking to King
and Queen Street, an historic
landmark.
The youngsters also will inves
tigate a sensitive water quality
issue during a role playing game
called “Hometown USA.” After
ward, they will get a chance to see
how a panel of farmers, develop
ers, elected officials, and agency
representatives deal with the same
issue.
Three field trips, including vis
its to a wildlife farm, the Cono
wingo Dam, and a wastewater
treatment facility will round out
their camping experience.
Contact the 4-H agent at your
local cooperative extension ser
vice office for more information.