Maine Department of Health and Human Services

Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC)
 (Formerly Bureau of Health)
11 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333-0011

Phone 1-800-821-5821 / Fax 207-287-7443

**ADVISORY – Important Information**

 

2006PHADV017

 

TO:                 Border Medical Officers, County Emergency Management Agency, Emergency Medical Services, Hospitals, Infection Control Practitioners, ME Correctional Facilities, ME Lab Facilities, ME Primary Care, ME Emergency Management Agency, Public Health Nurses, Public Health, School Based Health Centers, School Based Health Centers, School Nurses, State and Federal Agencies, RRC’s, Veterinarians         

 

FROM:           Dora Anne Mills, M.D., M.P.H., Public Health Director           

 

SUBJECT:     Updated Treatment Guidelines for Lyme Disease

 

DATE:            October 31, 2006                   

 

TIME:            8:00 AM

 

PAGES:          2

 

PRIORITY:    Review

Confidentiality Notice:  This fax message is intended for the exclusive use of the individual or entity identified above.  It may contain information, which is privileged and/or confidential under both state and federal law.  If you are not notified otherwise, any further dissemination, copying, or disclosure of the communication is strictly prohibited.  If you have received this   transmittal in error, please immediately notify us at 287-8478 and return the original transmission to us by mail at Key Bank Plaza, 6^th Floor-286 Water Street. Augusta, ME  04333, without making a copy.  Your cooperation in protecting confidential information is greatly appreciated.    

Updated Treatment Guidelines for Lyme Disease, October 2006

 

 

The infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) recently issued new guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis and babesiosis.  The document containing these guidelines is posted on the Maine CDC Lyme disease website (http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/boh/ddc/lyme_disease.htm).

 

Background:  In general, the number of cases of Lyme disease reported to the Maine CDC has been steadily increasing in the last five years.  In 2005, a total of 247 confirmed cases of Lyme disease were reported.  The corresponding incidence, at 18.7 cases per 100,000 people, was higher than the five-year median average.  We have also seen significant increases in the reported cases of ehrlichiosis and babesiosis since the year 2000. 

 

Recommendations:  We fully endorse the recommendations within these guidelines as we believe many of the questions and concerns related to the diagnosis and treatment of tick-borne diseases, particularly Lyme disease, are appropriately addressed.

 

For More Information: Call the Maine CDC disease reporting and consultation hotline at 1-800-821-5821.