'Quiet Epidemic' delves into chronic Lyme disease

Pennsylvania has had the unfortunate distinction of leading the nation in Lyme disease cases for 11 of the past 13 years. The tick-borne illness can be difficult to diagnose, and the vice president for the PA Lyme Disease Network said multiple mild winters are not going to help.

“We continue to have them, and not enough ticks die out over the winter,” said the network’s Bill Moore. “So the percentage of ticks with disease continues to increase.”

The network will host a screening of “The Quiet Epidemic,” an award-winning Lyme documentary, at 6 p.m. May 30 in Monroeville. The film explores debate in the medical community about chronic Lyme disease.

Ticks find a new host by climbing onto vegetation. When an animal or human walks by, they hitch a ride and look for a suitable spot to feed. Moore advised to always check for ticks after spending a significant amount of time outdoors, and to remove them as soon as possible. While tweezers can work, inexpensive devices called Tick Twisters and Tick Keys make it simple to remove a tick, mouth parts and all.

State officials have continued to try and raise awareness about ticks and Lyme.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has a 2024 tick prevention calendar on its website filled with tips, tick facts and artwork created by elementary students through a contest designed to educate children about ticks.

The Pennsylvania Health Department also recently launched a tick diseases dashboard to provide updated information across the commonwealth.

While there was a sizable dip in new cases during the covid pandemic 2020 and 2021, the state has registered between 8,000 and 11,000 cases annually since 2015, according to department data.

May is Lyme Disease Prevention Month and it is the time when the most cases are reported each year in the state.

Watch the trailer for ‘The Quiet Epidemic.”

“Prevention is the key,” Moore said. “We recommend permethrin for treating your shoes and socks, treating your skin with DEET or picaridin — just those two simple steps can go a long way toward preventing Lyme disease.”

So far in 2024, Westmoreland County has an incidence rate of just under 35 cases per 100,000 people, according to the health department dashboard. Allegheny County’s is just over 5 cases per 100,000 people. Cameron County, surrounded on all sides by state forest, has the highest statewide, with more than 200 cases per 100,000 people.

But one doesn’t have to hike deep into state gamelands to get a tick bite. Moore said most people get bitten in their own backyards.

“The more time you spend outdoors, the more risk there is,” he said.

The May 30 screening will be at the Monroeville Senior Center, 6000 Gateway Campus Blvd. It is free and open to the public, and there will be a Q&A following the film with doctors and Lyme experts.