High School Students Want to Know: What are common ways to get Lyme disease?

 Question #7:

What are common ways to get Lyme disease?

The CDC states there is no evidence that you can get Lyme disease through food, the air or water.  You cannot get Lyme disease from eating meat from an animal carrying the Lyme disease causing bacteria.  You cannot get Lyme disease through the bite of a mosquito or any other bug or animal. 

There is no evidence showing you can get Lyme disease from another person via touch or body fluids, however, the CDC states there is the possibility that it may be transmittable between an infected, untreated mother and fetus.  There is no documented evidence of Lyme disease spread through blood transfusion, but, to be safe, persons with an active infection should not donate.

The only way we currently know of for catching Lyme disease is through the bite of a tick carrying the bacteria that cause Lyme disease.  According to the CDC, "In most cases, the tick must be attached for 36 to 48 hours or more before the Lyme disease bacterium can be transmitted." 

 

Post by C. Fisher