We already know how dangerous mosquitoes can be, as they are the cause of viruses such as Zika, Dengue, and Chikungunya.

However, they have recently been found to also carry and transfer yet another disease, the Keystone Virus.

The Keystone Virus comes from a family of viruses known as the Bunyaviridae group; which have been associated with encephalitis (an inflammation of the brain that can be fatal).

This virus was first discovered in 1964 from samples from mosquitoes in Keystone, Florida.

Although it was discovered in Florida, it is mobile and has been found in coastal regions as far away as Texas.

White-tailed deer, raccoons, and squirrels are known carriers of this disease.

Keystone virus was thought to not infect humans and cause sickness, until recently a 16-year-old boy’s tissue samples showed he had the virus.

People who live in an area where the mosquito and virus are more prevalent have been found to have antibodies against the virus in their blood, meaning this is not the first time the Keystone virus has infected people.

However, no one else has previously reported getting sick from this virus, and that’s what has stumped professionals.

No live virus had been found in humans until now.

Aedes atlanticus mosquitoes are the transmitters of the Keystone virus and are common in Florida; similar to Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that are known to spread viruses like Dengue, Zika, and Chikungunya.

The young boy experienced a fever and rash, which are common in viral infections.

This virus has yet to have any distinctive features, making it difficult to diagnose.

However, professionals believe this virus is not life-threatening.

The best way to prevent this disease and all mosquito related diseases is to use an EPA registered, IR3535 insect repellent to repel potentially dangerous insect bites.

(Original Article: http://sandhillsexpress.com/abc_health/theres-a-new-mosquitoborne-virus-in-town-and-you-may-have-it-abcid36082772/)

The CDC has reported that California leads the nation with over 9,000 cases of mosquito-transmitted diseases in the past decade; making it the number one state carrier for mosquito-borne diseases within this time.

David Heft, President of the Mosquito and Vector Control Association of California, commented with, “these numbers are startling as they only represent mosquito-transmitted diseases that were reported to health officials said.”

Due to how difficult it can be to determine a mosquito-borne disease, many cases will go unreported or misdiagnosed.

This report also states two invasive species of mosquitoes have been found in roughly 200 cities across California since 2011; which is in addition to the state’s native mosquito species.

California is followed by closely by New York and Texas.

This report includes both local disease transmission and those associated with travel.

To help prevent the spread of these diseases it is critical that you use an EPA registered, IR 3535 Insect Repellent product to repel harmful bites from yourself.

(Original Article: https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/california/cdc-california-leads-the-nation-in-mosquito-borne-disease/103-566028685)

Dr. Adrian Baranchuk from the Kingston General Hospital Research warns health care professionals in Canada to be aware of a serious complication of Lyme disease.

The bacteria can start attacking the heart before doctors realize what’s occurring within the patient.

Dr. Baranchuk claims some patients can develop a rare condition called Lyme carditis.

This bacterium disturbs the electrical system of the heart.

Doctors must recognize the symptoms in the early stage, and treat the patient, even if they don’t have the results to confirm infection with Lyme.

Ticks are the main carriers of Lyme disease, and they spread bacteria that causes fever, fatigue, joint pain and other symptoms.

If the bacteria travels through the blood and reaches the heart, it can cause inflammation and disrupt the electrical system of the heart.

This condition is called “heart block,” as it slows the heartbeat.

It also causes dizziness, shortness of breath, and chest pain.

If not treated, the heart will completely shut down.

Dr. Baranchuk says he’s had many patients come with heart block symptoms in the last 18 months, and a large majority of these people are at least 50 years old and all went on outdoor activities like camping or hiking.

Dr. Baranchuk advises that misdiagnosis is common, “One of the things we noticed was each one of them had attended a different ER two to three times before anyone thought about this condition.”

Lyme carditis is difficult to diagnose because of its rarity.

Lyme disease also has vague symptoms that are very similar to the flu.

Dr. Baranchuck worries that many other potential cases are misdiagnosed or unnoticed.

“We have the suspicion that there are way more cases than are reported because doctors are failing to report it.“

Lyme bacteria can be killed with antibiotics.

Dr. Baranchuck published a paper advising doctors to treat unusual heart problems with antibiotics, even before getting the results that confirm Lyme infection.

In a circumstance like this, it is better to play it safe rather than be sorry later on.

If it becomes too late, the patients that don’t get antibiotics will need peacemakers.

Dr. Baranchuk concludes by saying, “These patients may not require pacemakers to be implanted. They can be treated with IV antibiotics for 10 to 12 days, and the electricity of the heart will recover completely forever.”

Seeing as just how harmful Lyme disease is, it is highly advised to use an EPA registered, IR 3535 Insect Repellent to repel tick bites and other bacteria transmitting bites.

(Original Article: http://advocator.ca/news/lyme-disease-can-cause-rare-complications-attacking-the-heart-says-ontario-doctor/2633)

Barbara Thorne, an Entomologist at the University of Maryland, was born and raised in western Pennsylvania.

During her childhood she never heard of or saw any cases of Lyme Disease locally.

However, since her childhood Pennsylvania took a turn for the worst, and western Pennsylvania had become broadly infected with ticks that contained a harmful bacterium.

This bacterium the ticks carried is called Borrelia Burgdorferi, and it can cause Lyme Disease.

Lyme Disease is a serious threat to your health, as if left untreated symptoms can range from fever, fatigue and a rash, to serious damage to the joints, heart and nervous system.

During a recent family reunion, Thorne was bitten by a black-legged tick unknowingly, until eight or nine days later when she noticed something peculiar.

“I noticed a roundish red rash above my waistline and it expanded each day. I was also feeling sick with exhaustion and achiness.”

Once this occurred she talked with her primary care doctor and they diagnosed her with Lyme disease.

She was prescribed a course of antibiotics and after a few months she has improved.

Barbara was fortunate, as not everyone with a Lyme infection develops a rash.

Other symptoms, such as fatigue and aches, overlap with common illnesses; making the diagnosis difficult to do.

Due to this, some people don’t realize they’re infected or misdiagnose themselves and don’t seek medical treatment.

The CDC estimates the actual amount of Lyme disease infections is 10 times higher than the number of reported cases; which is staggering.

Lyle Peterson of the CDC claims that tick-borne diseases have been “steadily going up every year as the diseases expand to new areas around the country.”

Lyme disease accounts for about 80 percent of the tick-borne illnesses in the U.S.; making it the main concern when looking at tick-borne diseases.

Lack of effective surveillance and tracking also plays a factor in this miscounting.

Peterson explains, “People just go to their local doctor to be treated. State health departments have a very difficult time keeping up with the sheer number of cases reported.”

Dr. Paul Fiedler, a clinical pathologist on Yale School of Medicine’s faculty, explains how the way Lyme Disease is diagnosed is also to blame.

“Many of the tests for Lyme disease are negative at the time that patients first visit their doctor.”

Blood tests to detect Lyme disease rely on a person’s immune response, which takes time to react to the bacteria causing this disease.

It takes time, sometimes as long as 10-30 days, for the body to mount a measurable response.

If somebody is tested before the immune system has produced enough antibodies, the result will be a false negative, “And the diagnosis could be missed.”

Thorne advised, “The ticks do tend to climb upward; like they climb up your legs. They often attach where there was a constriction of clothing, like around the waistline.”

Ticks also like to hide in armpits and behind your ears.

If you do find one attached to your body, use a pair of tweezers to grasp the tick very close to the surface of the skin and pull upward with steady pressure.

If you want to avoid a search for insects that are so tiny they can be mistaken for poppy seeds, then it is highly advised to use an EPA registered, IR 3535 Insect Repellent.

(Original Article: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/05/07/607782359/lyme-disease-is-on-the-rise-again-heres-how-to-prevent-it)

Adam Mitchell, a young boy from Inverness, Scotland, was a happy, healthy young boy last April.

Slightly over a year later, Adam has asked his mother “Will I die tonight?”

According to his mother, Amy, he has trouble processing simple information, suffers memory loss, forgetting the simplest thing, muddles his words, and becomes exhausted incredibly easily.

Amy recalls when Adam was a healthy young boy not too long ago. “He was so happy-go-lucky. He loved racing around, swimming and telling jokes.”

Now, after receiving Lyme Disease, Adam is “a totally different little boy.”

Only weeks after being bitten Adam’s character rapidly changed.

Amy claims due to the Lyme disease Adam contracted, “He suddenly started suffering terrible tantrums. He regressed back to a toddler and was having rages on the floor, shouting, screaming and kicking. It was really unlike him.”

Amy even went as far as contacting Adam’s school in concern for his behavior, to which the school acknowledged they also noticed a concerning change in Adam.

This disease changed Adam’s personality so much that he was described by Amy as being “irritated with his little brother, and that wasn’t like him at all. He was also withdrawn. Like an adult with depression.”

Not only mentally, but he also suffered physical symptoms, was lethargic, had little energy and no appetite.

Amy detailed “Adam would come home from school, crawl onto the sofa and not move. He would just lie there, totally exhausted.”

Comparing how he was before contracting Lyme disease, Amy says “This was a little boy who’d previously had loads of energy and would eat anything you put in front of him, but he had no appetite and no energy.”

Amy took Adam to his GP. In early May, but this may have been a bit late as “by this stage his temperature had risen to 40 degrees, he was flushed, sweating, the glands on his neck resembled a bunch of grapes and he had a rash on the left side of his head. I took him to the doctors and he was so weak all he could say was, ‘Mummy please take me home, so I can go to bed’.”

Near the end of May, Amy received phone call from Adam’s school warning of bad news.

Amy explained, “We rushed in and saw the left side of his face was paralyzed. He was totally miserable. We took him home and he just came in and hid under his blanket.”

Adam was rushed to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness where he was admitted and diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, which is partial facial paralysis and can be caused by an infection.

Within a week of being back home was readmitted with full facial paralysis.

Amy says “He was unable to swallow or blink, had a numb mouth, couldn’t walk because he was exhausted and needed full care. His dad David and I had to carry him everywhere.”

Amy also tells of a big discovery when she said: “In the week between being discharged and readmitted he had undergone a blood test as Bell’s palsy is recognized as a symptom of Lyme. That came back positive. He was given a lumbar puncture due to his neurological symptoms and this also came back as positive for Lyme in his brain and central nervous system.”

Now knowing for sure Adam had contracted Lyme disease, he could finally be treated.

Over the next few months his face recovered, and his energy levels started to improve; although, he still suffers exhaustion.

Amy added: “The illness has left him brain damaged which is so sad. He is back and forth to hospital and is still under investigation.”

Amy concluded with: “It’s really tough. He’s not the same little boy he once was. I want other parents to know infected ticks are everywhere. Not every tick carries Lyme disease – but assume, they do. If you spot a tick on your child don’t take the chance. Remove it. Look out for symptoms and act as soon as you spot anything wrong.”

Amy now knows that she should have taken greater precautions against harmful insects, such as ticks, and she now hopes to save other parents from going through what her family is going through.

It is highly suggested to use an EPA registered, IR3535 Insect Repellent product to repel harmful insect bites that could harm you like they did to Adam.

(Original Article: https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/6521575/my-seven-year-old-boy-has-been-left-permanently-brain-damaged-after-he-was-bitten-by-a-tick-in-our-garden/)