Committee Weighs The Threat

Of Lyme In Newtown

By Kendra Bobowick

“It’s here; I wouldn’t ever say it’s not here,” said Health District Director Donna Culbert, referring to the variety of diseases carried by ticks and infecting residents. “It’s here,” she said to Tick-Borne Disease Action Committee members Wednesday night. “So, we try to get information out there to the public about risk.”

Ticks are in wooded areas, fields, parks, and backyards where children may run to retrieve basketballs, baseballs, or sticks for their pets. Ticks are in the underbrush in local walking trails, at the edges of gardens where more densely forested areas border lawns, or along walking routes to schools.

Naming the many measures people can take to reduce their exposure to a tick-borne disease, Ms Culbert warned, “Unless you’re 100 percent compliant …” skipping beyond steps people can take to reduce their risk, she named the consequences, “It only takes one [tick] bite.” Measures include protective clothing in light colors where ticks are visible, tucking pant legs into socks, spraying the yard for ticks, and using bug sprays before entering woods. Residents can also use landscaping methods to reduce the likelihood of ticks entering the yard, use deer fencing, and remember to check themselves inch-by-inch for ticks or signs of a bite.

Group member Dr Peter Licht would note also, “If you find one on you [contact your doctor] for a prophylactic.” The preventative medical treatment might include an antibiotic to protect against contracting Lyme disease, for one. The first 24 hours is often a critical time period for preventative measures. Seek prophylactic treatment “right away,” he stressed.

Taking the tick and sending it for disease testing then waiting for results only generates a “lag time,” he argued. While checking for ticks is a good idea, he said, “Take the next step.”

Maggie Shaw later added, “We’re talking about a tick bite, you can get treated the next day and go out and get bit again, there could be more than one tick … this is more serious.”

Member Kim Harrison asked Ms Culbert, “If there were no financial restrictions and you could wave a wand, what would be helpful to combat [disease].” The reply: “Money doesn’t solve problems.” Alluding to a concern, she continued, “People are very casual about tick-borne disease.” With so much information “out there,” people may be overrun with flyers, commercials, messages, members agreed.

Frustrated, Ms Harrison said, “So, they don’t ‘get it’ unless they ‘get it.’”

Ms Culbert added, “Or, they get it, and get over it.”

How many people get worse? What if a co-infection of several tick-borne diseases is missed? What if the classic rash is absent and people believe they do not have Lyme? Also frustrated, Dr Licht said, “It’s eminently treatable.”

Ms Culbert said, “Our information needs to be relevant, current, important.” The group considered how to successfully impress their message upon residents. Would Public Service Announcements or an email list help? They think a fresh approach or monthly message related to tick disease prevention may help. Ms Culbert is agreeable to working on an improved campaign to get people’s attention, she said.

Adding another thought, she said, “I don’t want ticks to run our life. They are a fact of life.” She cautioned, “If you’re better about managing your property, yourself … you can’t be casual about it, it’s a risk. This is Newtown, Connecticut, Fairfield County. It’s a risk.”

Education in the schools is important, but the parents and adults need to be a main focus of education efforts, the group said. As Neil Chaudhary made his point, “Educating kids is great, but if I’m 12, I won’t do anything you tell me.” Pulling up your socks and tucking your pants into them is “dorky,” he insisted. “And, I would want to play in the woods.”

David Delia asked, “How serious is Lyme?”

“Very,” said Ms Culbert.

“From one to ten,” he asked.

Naming heart disease and substance abuse among the high-ranking health threats, Ms Culbert decided, “It’s among the top three.”

Mr Delia promoted getting some “dramatic facts” in front of the public. Dr Licht said to Ms Culbert, “You can punt this question if you want, but what is your opinion on limiting the deer population? Should it have a role?”

Smiling, Ms Culbert’s answer was long: “What I will say — I think some of the findings of this group is a huge opportunity to educate the public. I think you can catch a lot of attention and the fact that you have different opinions — you can generate a lot of interest regardless of your opinion.” She agreed, “That’s sort of a punt.” Getting to the deer, she said, “The numbers show a lot of deer and a lot of problems. They’re having an impact.

“Personally,” she thinks, “you need to walk before you run.” Ms Culbert explained: “Where now is hunting legal and allowable already? Can you increase access to land already available? That’s not changing anything and it’s walking before you run.”

While Ms Culbert’s answer alluded to a way around a deer-culling program, the group soon heard the opposite from Dr Thomas Draper of Danbury Hospital.

As an attendee, he told the group, “The fundamental problem is the deer.” He agrees with efforts to spray and check for ticks, but said again, “We’re treading water until we address the fundamental issue — the deer.” The deer is where “the rubber hits the road,” he said.

Vaccines could be another viable measure to combat diseases. Dr Michelle McLeod said, “Most epidemics have been conquered with vaccines.” Polio, measles, included, she said. Dr Licht would “love” to see legislators from various states infected with Lyme and other diseases to collaborate, and mobilize efforts to promote a vaccine.

Further into the conversation, Ms Harrison interjected, “It’s all well and great, but you can’t hold your breath for a vaccine or [other methods].” Diseases are getting “worse and worse,” she said. “Vaccines are great and I hope and pray it works, but it’s not taking action, it’s pie in the sky.”

Countering Ms Harrison’s thoughts, Dr McLeod asked if it was not “pie in the sky” to think that reducing the deer population was the answer.

What about simultaneous efforts? Dr Licht asked.

Visit the health district’s page at newtown-ct.gov. The action committee will also meet weekly through January, February, and March. See the town’s websites for times and agendas.