Bambi bearing gifts
Posted by: Barbara Bibel
As a walk around my neighborhood, I encounter deer grazing on local gardens and my dog gets frustrated because she cannot catch these large creatures. They often stroll down the street at night, oblivious to oncoming cars. It all reminds me of the fact that these creatures may be bitten by black-legged ticks infected with borrelia burgdorferi, the spirochete which causes Lyme disease. Although this disease is most common on the East Coast of the United States, it does occur else where. The American Lyme Disease Foundation's website at http://www.aldf.com/index.shtml has a great deal of useful information in English and Spanish. It includes maps showing the prevalence of the disease, guides for identifying ticks, a video showing the proper way to remove ticks, and information about the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of Lyme disease. All of the information is from reliable medical sources. There has been controversy about Lyme disease and whether it can exist as a chronic condition. The website provides accurate information refuting the existence of chronic Lyme disease. Enjoy the lovely if sometimes pesky deer, but beware of they gifts that they may bear.
