Alameda County Lyme Disease Surveillance, 2004-2005

Annual Report FY 2004-2005, Alameda County Vector Control Services

As part of the Lyme disease surveillance program, staff collect and identify ticks, and may recommend testing for tick borne disease when appropriate. Field surveys were conducted at seven locations, which resulted in the collection of 446 questing ticks of which 439 were Ixodes pacificus, the Lyme disease vector. None of these ticks were confirmed to be Lyme disease positive by direct immunofluorescence (IFA). Forty four residents or pets from Alameda County were bitten by ticks. These were submitted to the Sonoma County Public Health Laboratory for Lyme disease testing. One local ticks which bit Alameda County Residents tested positive for the Lyme disease spirochete. The District now has the capability of conducting Lyme disease IFA Tests. We hope to expand this capability when new staff are hired.