The Nation - News from Oct. 6, 1989

The number of cases of Lyme disease doubled in a year’s time, and precautions such as bug spray may not be practical for people at risk for months on end, federal health officials said. The national Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta reported a record 4,572 cases of the tick-borne disease last year, chiefly in the Northeast. That’s nearly twice as high as in 1987, when 2,368 cases were reported, and up more than ninefold from 1982’s 492 cases. The disease can cause rash, aches and even life-threatening heart disturbances. The increasing case count is probably due not only to spread of the disease, but also to increased awareness and reporting, the agency noted. Health professionals recommend protective clothing and insect repellent to guard against ticks, but in some high-risk areas that may not be practical, the CDC said.