View Full Version : Lyme risk in Southern Appalachians (April-May)
stranger
10-07-2013, 05:23
Say someone starts at Springer in late April and hikes up to Pearisburg / Troutville, what do you think the risk of Lyme would be? I'm thinking it's quite low til mid-northern VA, thoughts?
I started in mid March and didn't start seeing ticks until May in northern VA.
Ticks can be out any time it's above freezing.
I suggest treating your clothing with Permethrin every 6 weeks once you get into VA.
There's lots of info out there on Lyme:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/lyme-disease/DS00116/DSECTION=symptoms
http://lymedisease.org/lyme101/lyme_disease/lyme_symptoms.html
I'd suggest the CDC site but it's down due to the Gov. shut down. (Seriously? How many federal workers does it take to let a server run????)
Lyme Disease is a real risk, it's good your looking into it.
I picked it up in Mass. and have known several hikers who have had it. I carried Doxycycline which I started taking as soon as I realized I was showing symptoms.
The national Lyme disease risk map shows the lower Appalachians as no risk or low risk. Not because there are no deer ticks but because of the life cycle differences of the locations. The map shows Florida as low risk but here the experts consider Florida virtually no risk. Ticks can carry lots of diseases though and I would consider treating clothing regardless of location.
if the CDC website were up and you were to really take an intelligent look at the numbers you'd conclude as i have- statistically speaking the risk of contracting lyme disease is very low, period. on top of that, it is really only a "high risk" in the northeast.
ChinMusic
10-07-2013, 12:03
Say someone starts at Springer in late April and hikes up to Pearisburg / Troutville, what do you think the risk of Lyme would be? I'm thinking it's quite low til mid-northern VA, thoughts?
On May 21st I pulled over 100 (not a guess, I counted over 100) ticks off my dog after hiking near VA 42 (Keffer Oak area). About 20% of those ticks were deer ticks and 80% dog ticks. I had exactly ZERO on me. I attribute that to my clothing being treated with permethrin and not sticking my nose in every weed along the trail.
stranger
10-07-2013, 21:53
Thanks people...I'm well versed on Lyme and prevention, I grew up near the epicenter in upstate NY, my father got it in the early 90's before they knew much about it so I've seen what it can do first hand.
I guess I'm trying to figure out whether or not I want to take a risk, I was thinking spring in the south would be substantially less risk...when I can avoid Lyme completely in this part of the world.
Say what you want about Tiger Snakes and Death Adders...at least you can see them and you will know if bitten!
MuddyWaters
10-07-2013, 22:15
You wont find many ticks on the AT south of VA. And the Lyme is virtually nonexistent as well. From Va north is a different story.
WingedMonkey
10-07-2013, 22:25
The CDC site is not down (it is not being updated).
http://www.cdc.gov/lyme/
stranger
10-07-2013, 23:22
Great site...according to that it looks like a very low chance of contracting Lyme between Springer and Pearisburg, especially before June. This is what I suspected.
I think I would still Pemethrin most clothing, can't hurt!
Also...I'm allergic to Doxycycline so I'm a little extra cautious
Snowleopard
10-11-2013, 18:20
2012 Lyme disease incidence map:
http://www.cdc.gov/lyme/resources/ReportedCasesofLymeDisease_2012.pdf (http://www.cdc.gov/lyme/resources/ReportedCasesofLymeDisease_2012.pdf)
The risk is pretty low south of VA, BUT Lyme has been spreading geographically so the incidence is probably higher now than the map shows. There's much higher risk further north. It can't hurt to treat at least your pants with permethrin.