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- Title
Tick-Borne Disease Risk and Exposure among Vulnerable Populations in Perceived Non-Endemic Regions.
- Authors
Thomas, Kevin; Brooks, Chris; McNeely, Connie L.; Maxwell, Sarah P.
- Abstract
Migrant and seasonal workers in the United States, among others in rural agricultural communities, may be at an elevated risk for tick-borne diseases (TBDs). This research included a survey of over 250 such workers, both women and men, in 13 locations across five eco-systems in Texas, which is generally perceived as a non-endemic state. Employing a modified Horowitz Multiple Systemic Infectious Disease Syndrome Questionnaire, a range of data was collected regarding living conditions, such as sleeping outside, along with queries about tick exposure, tick bite encounters, illnesses, and prior TBD diagnoses. Findings revealed that 67% of the respondents who scored highest on symptom severity suggestive of a TBD reported sleeping outdoors (compared to 29% of the lowest scoring), with 78% of the likely-to-highly-likely group also recalling tick-bite encounters (compared to 20% of the lowest scoring). Approximately 28% of those who reported severe symptoms also indicated previous Lyme disease diagnoses. This research serves as an initial investigation into the living conditions associated with increased risk of TBDs among vulnerable populations. It underscores the need for further assessments of TBD risk relative to vulnerable populations even in perceived non-endemic regions and highlights the paucity of actionable data as a critical public health issue.
- Subjects
TICK-borne diseases; MIGRANT labor; LYME disease diagnosis; DIAGNOSIS of ehrlichiosis; SOCIAL factors
- Publication
Zoonotic Diseases (2813-0227), 2022, Vol 2, Issue 3, p111
- ISSN
2813-0227
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3390/zoonoticdis2030011