The Sacramento Bee Cal Report: 
[Appeared on internet on February 19, 2000]

Lyme disease-carrying ticks found in Malibu

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Ticks carrying Lyme disease, which can lead to 
arthritis or heart and nervous system disorders if left untreated, were 
found along two Malibu park trails.

Five out of 12 groups of ticks collected Jan. 28 in Charmlee Park tested 
positive for Lyme disease, the Los Angeles County West Vector Control 
District said Friday.

"That's a pretty significant finding for Southern California," said 
Robert Saviskas, executivedirector of the district's vector-borne 
disease program.

He said disease-carrying ticks weren't spotted in Southern California 
until last year. The first infected ticks were found about 10 miles away 
from Charmlee Park, Saviskas said.

Authorities discovered the latest batch of infected ticks along the 
Botony and Meadow trails.

"People working or playing outdoors in this area are advised to be extra 
watchful for ticks because some of them carry the bacteria that causes 
Lyme Disease or other tick-borne diseases," said Walt Keller, councilman 
for Malibu.

Saviskas said people who are walking in areas with brush or tall grass 
should wear pants and long-sleeved shirts and should tuck their pants 
into socks or boots.

The western black-legged tick is the only tick of some 50 species found 
in California that is known to transmit Lyme disease.

The tick feeds by embedding its mouth into the skin of humans or animals 
and sucking blood.

The disease is most commonly contracted during the spring and early 
summer.

Symptoms include a ring-like rash with a clear center, fever, fatigue 
and body aches, Saviskas said.

Lyme disease, named after the Connecticut town where it was discovered, 
can be treated with antibiotics.

Nearly all patients recover without complications, Saviskas said.

sacbee: Cal Report
[Note: Link no longer available on 1 March 2000]
http://www.sacbee.com/news/calreport/calrep_story.cgi?N177.HTML

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