Lyme Disease inFairfax County

Peter Troell, MD, MPHMedical Epidemiologist

Fairfax County Health Department

Reported Lyme Disease Cases Fairfax County, 1991-2009

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Year

Lym

e D

isea

se C

ases

per

100

,000

Pop

ulat

ion

Reported Lyme Cases by Age and Sex

Fairfax County, 2005-2009

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

0-4

5-9

10-1

4

15-1

9

20-2

4

25-2

9

30-3

4

35-3

9

40-4

4

45-4

9

50-5

4

55-5

9

60-6

4

65-6

9

70-7

4

75-7

9

80-8

4>84

Age Group

Nu

mb

er o

f C

ases

Females

Males

Reported Lyme Cases by Month of Illness Onset

Fairfax County, 2005-2009Number of Cases

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

Janu

ary

Febru

ary

Mar

chApr

ilM

ayJu

ne July

Augus

t

Septe

mbe

r

Octobe

r

Novem

ber

Decem

ber

Month

Hu

man

Cas

es 2

005-

2009

Fairfax County Response to Lyme Disease

Monitor Lyme disease activity in the County: Human Lyme disease surveillance Tick surveillance

Prevent disease and lessen impact through: Public outreach and education Physician education Deer Management Program

Human Disease Surveillance

Objective: To identify new cases of Lyme disease and monitor

disease trends in the County

Activities: Reporting of cases to FCHD by healthcare

providers Reporting of positive test results by private

laboratories Use of CDC Lyme disease case definition for

consistency Entering cases in a database for local, state, and

national statistics

Tick Surveillance

ObjectiveObjective: : To monitor tick abundance To monitor tick abundance

and disease infection rates and disease infection rates

ActivitiesActivities:: Tick trappingTick trapping Tick collection from deer Tick collection from deer

and other animalsand other animals Tick laboratory testing for Tick laboratory testing for

Lyme and other diseases Lyme and other diseases Research to refine methodsResearch to refine methods Tick identification serviceTick identification service

Public Education and Outreach

Objective: To increase public awareness

and provide education on personal protection measures

Activities: Informational booths

– Fairs, festivals, other events Presentations

– Community groups, landscapers, Police, Parks and Recreation

Public service announcement for theaters, TV, and schools

Distribution of educational materials

Educational Materials Tick BrochureTick Brochure Reference GuideReference Guide

– Mailed to every Mailed to every household in Countyhousehold in County

Repellent GuideRepellent Guide Tick Fact Card Tick Fact Card Tick ID CardTick ID Card Children’s readerChildren’s reader

– In productionIn production Web PageWeb Page

www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fightthebite

Physician EducationObjective: To increase physician awareness and

educate physicians to help ensure early diagnosis and treatment

Activities: Physician educational outreach:

– Direct mail of educational materials, newsletter articles, educational forums

Deer Management Program

Objective: Control deer population in the County

Activities:Deer population reductionHumane exclusion & repellencyPublic educationResearch

Do you know how to protect yourself?

Lyme disease prevention starts with YOU:

Avoid tick habitats Maintain a tick free yard Dress to protect Use insect repellent Protect your pet Remove ticks promptly Know the early signs and symptoms of

Lyme disease

Acknowledgements

Virginia Department of Health U.S. Centers for Disease Control

and Prevention Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention Public Health Images Library