Which vector-borne diseases are found in Connecticut?

Lyme Disease

Lyme Disease is a bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and is transmitted to humans through a bite from an infected black legged tick. The disease was first diagnosed in Old Lyme, CT in 1975 which subsequently is what it was named for. This disease is still extremely prevalent for people all over the United States, but especially in Connecticut where about 30,000 cases of Lyme are documented each year (CT Dept. of Public Health)

Lyme Disease Symptoms

Early signs of Lyme disease include: Fever, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes. One of the most telling signs of Lyme disease can be the Erythema migrans or “bulls-eye” rash which can appear within 3 to 30 days after the initial tick bite. Later signs of Lyme disease include: Extreme muscle fatigue and stiffness, inflammation of the brain and spinal cord, episodes of dizziness, severe joint pain and swelling, facial paralysis, irregular heartbeat, nerve pains, and problems with short term memory. Lyme disease is diagnosed through symptoms and blood tests. It is often treated easily with antibiotics if caught early enough; once the infection has gone without treatment longer than 30 days it can lead to more serious symptoms and can spread to and cause effects in different parts of the body such as the nervous system. 

West Nile Virus Common Symptoms

Fever, headaches, body aches, and swollen lymph nodes

West Nile Virus Less Common Symptoms

Stiff neck, sleepiness, disorientation, body tremors, coma, convulsions, and paralysis