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Tick-Borne Illnesses Up for the Year

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(Photo Courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) This photograph depicts a dorsal view of a male cayenne tick, Amblyomma cajennense. This tick specie is a known North, Central and South American vector of Rickettsia rickettsii, which is the etiologic agent of Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF).

The number of tick-borne illnesses throughout the state has far surpassed the total last year. The Tennessee Health Department has reported 304 cases of Rocky Mountain spotted fever as of this month, compared to 255 known cases in all of 2011.

Dr. Buddy Creech who is one of Vanderbilt’s infectious disease experts says meningitis bacteria can also be carried by a tick. And children can contract the illnesses without a tick being found, since the insects can remove themselves after their blood meal.

Medical experts link the increased cases in tick-borne illnesses to an abundance this season following a mild winter and early spring.

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Blake Farmer, Host, This Is Nashville

Blake Farmer is the host of “This Is Nashville,” the flagship weekday show of Nashville Public Radio. Previously, Blake spent 16 years at WPLN News, serving as host, editor and news director. Before a two-year radio hiatus with a Nashville-based healthcare company, Blake was one of the country’s most prolific healthcare audio journalists. He produced stories for both local and national programs, extending the reach of his reporting through a partnership with KFF Health News. Outside of work, Blake can be found running or biking on roads that other Nashvillians consider too busy for such activities. So far, he has always made it home to his wife of 20 years and two children.

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