⚠️⚠️Beware Floridians .. that 89,500 Florida cases ( TRIPLE 2010) reported to the CDC is severely undercounted .. you do want this disease.. it changes your life
FLDA Mention by People: Florida Tick Bite Changes a Firefighter’s Life Forever
“A Georgia firefighter named Dallas Thompson went camping in Florida last July, and a few tick bites turned his life upside down. Ten days later, he developed severe flu-like symptoms, and was eventually diagnosed with Lyme disease. He did not develop a rash, which is often the first sign of the tick-borne disease.
Now, nearly a year later, he’s battling constant muscle pain, headaches, fatigue, and serious neurological issues like brain fog and memory problems. “I don’t know if I’m ever gonna get better,” he says.
This story is a powerful reminder that Lyme disease is a real and growing threat right here in Florida — even if official numbers undercount the problem.
"FLDA claims Lyme disease is undercounted in Florida, saying that "CDC surveillance counts place a heavy emphasis on 'high incidence' states," typically the states in the Northeast and upper Midwest."
FLDA Note: The story mentions the prevalence of lone star ticks in Florida with a link to FLDA. The CDC has taken the position that lone star ticks do not transmit Lyme, despite research from Kerry Clark PhD showing they can. It is also critical to note that the entire state of Florida is considered endemic for Ixodes scapularis (also known as blacklegged ticks or deer ticks), the tick better known to transmit Lyme disease.
It is unclear which type of tick bit Dallas Thompson. We also note that there is an error in the number of cases reported in Florida by the CDC.
If not treated, patients could suffer from severe headaches, neck stiffness, rashes, facial palsy, arthritis, heart palpitations, irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, dizziness, nerve pain, brain and spinal cord inflammation, numbness, or tingling in the hands or feet, pain in tendons, muscles, joints, and bones, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
#LymeDisease #FloridaLyme #TickBite #LymeAwareness #TickSeason