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Photo by Steve Johnson Suzn Peterson of Yorba Linda, Calif., hikes with her dog, Jongo, near Fish Lake Friday. Health officials say tick season is here, and with it the threat of Lyme disease. People and dogs can contract the disease, which can be severely debilitating if not detected early. Summer increases Lyme risk County officials issue tick season warnings By SUSAN JAY Summer is finally here and so are the ticks, including the one that carries Lyme disease. Public health officials encourage everyone enjoying the outdoors to learn how to prevent Lyme disease, how to recognize the symptoms and know what to do when people or their pets contract it. A vaccine is now available to prevent Lyme disease, but it is not 100 percent effective, and it's not for everyone, health officials say. New repellents also are on the market containing an insecticide effective against ticks. "We're definitely getting more calls from health providers and individuals having tick exposures and tick bites and wondering if it's Lyme or not," said Vicki Barbour, manager of Jackson County's public health clinic. If people are going to be outside around grassy, brushy and woody areas, they should understand the risk of being bitten and contracting Lyme disease, she said. "You don't necessarily have to be in the wilderness," Barbour said. "You can get them (ticks) in your own back yard." Lyme disease is spread by the western black legged tick. If a person isn't alert, the disease can go undetected until it's too late for effective treatment. It is difficult to diagnose and can leave a person severely debilitated. Part of the problem is that during the spring and early summer months, the bacteria-carrying tick is in the nymph stage and is about the size of a pinhead. The nymphs are light-colored and hard to see against the skin. Jackson and Josephine counties have a relatively high incidence of reported Lyme cases. In 1998, Jackson County had four reported cases, the second highest number in the state. Washington County had six and Josephine County had three. The state had a total of 20. The two southern counties historically have reported more Lyme cases than other counties in Oregon, said Emilio DeBess, state public health veterinarian with the Oregon Health Division. He and local health and vector control workers conducted studies in the two counties and found that 19 percent of deer mice carry the bacteria and 3 percent of ticks carry it. The study showed that the two counties are similar to Northern California, where there also is a high number of Lyme cases. DeBess figures that more rural settings and more recreational activities are partly responsible for the higher number of Lyme cases in Northern California and Southern Oregon. About this time in early summer, OHD also receives frequent calls from people asking about ticks and tick bites. Many physicians also are calling about the new Lyme disease vaccine, he said. The vaccine consists of three shots given over a year, but it's not recommended for the general public, DeBess and Barbour said. Except for people who are in the woods and brushy areas regularly, such as forest workers, outdoor guides, landscapers and tree planters, chances of being bitten by a tick are slim. Each shot costs $58 at the Jackson County Health Department. For people who are outdoors only occasionally, it's important to take preventive steps, BarBour said, although avid hikers who are in the woods weekly or more often might consider the vaccine. While outdoors, wear long sleeves and pants tucked into socks to prevent ticks from attaching to the skin. The next best thing is insect repellent. Barbour said effective sprays contain the ingredient permethrin, an insecticide that is sprayed on clothing. Sprays containing DEET are effective used on the skin. People returning from the outdoors should check their skin and have someone else check them for ticks. People should also remember to check their pets. Dogs can contract Lyme disease and experience the same symptoms as humans, DeBess said. A vaccine for dogs is available at veterinary offices, and dogs can also be treated with antibiotics after they contract it. He said other products are available to prevent ticks from attaching to pets. Lyme disease By SUSAN JAY What is Lyme disease? An infection caused by the bacteria borrelia burgdorferi. The disease is rarely fatal, but can be extremely debilitating. How is it transmitted? The spirochete bacteria is found in the western black-legged tick in the Pacific coastal states, and in the deer tick in the Eastern states. The tick has to be attached for 24 to 48 hours and engorged in order to transmit the bacteria through its saliva to its host. What time of year are people at greatest risk of contracting Lyme disease? Late spring, summer and fall. Most cases of Lyme disease result from the bite of the nymphs, which develop in the late spring and early summer. Infection is possible anytime. Where are people at most risk of getting bitten? When people and animals brush up against brush, grass and trees, ticks are likely to brush off and attach to them. They either feed or get carried to other places, such as yards and homes. What are the symptoms? A bullseye or ring-like rash may start to form a week to 10 days after the tick bite -- but not in every case. It can be very faint and grow to six inches or a foot in diameter. Later symptoms are flu-like, including stiff neck, fever, muscle aches and fatigue, and can progress to arthritis, memory loss, and neurological and autoimmune problems. What is the treatment after symptoms occur? If given soon enough after infection, antibiotics will kill the bacteria, but epidemiologists are unsure how soon that treatment must begin to be effective. The treatment isn't effective after later symptoms appear. What is the vaccine and who is it for? The Jackson County Public Health Department has the Lyme disease vaccine, a series of three shots taken over a year, at $58 per shot. The vaccine's manufacturer, Beecham Laboratories, says the vaccine was 78 percent effective in studies. Where can I get more information ? The Jackson County Public Health Department, 774-8209. Also, people who have been bitten and want the tick tested for the Lyme-causing bacteria can take it to Jackson County Vector Control, at 555 Mosquito Lane, Central Point, near Antelope Road and Table Rock Road. The phone number is 779-6460. Vector control personnel can send the tick to laboratories to be tested, for a fee. 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