Montana: Tick-Borne Diseases

Tick-Borne Disease and Daylight Savings Time Arrive Together in Montana, Montana State Department of Public Health and Human Services

Ticks can transmit a variety of infectious organisms to people. During the decade from 1995 to 2005 tick-borne diseases reported in Montana included those caused by bacteria (e.g., Tularemia, Relapsing Fever), rickettsia (e.g., Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Q Fever), and viruses (e.g., Colorado Tick Fever). While the symptoms and signs of these diseases vary, an acute febrile illness and history of tick exposure (especially observed ticks or tick bites) often lead to serologically confirmed diagnosis.

No indigenous Lyme Disease, but an unusual (unexplained) syndrome.

Noticeably absent from the list of tick-borne diseases in Montana is Lyme Disease. While there have been several laboratory-confirmed cases of Lyme Disease identified among Montana residents over the years, such cases have invariably had a history of travel to an endemic area prior to their onset of illness. Thus, these cases have been regarded as imported cases, and not reported as Montana cases. Clinicians are urged to be on the lookout for cases among residents at risk due to travel.
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On the other hand in recent years astute Montana clinicians have identified and reported cases with signs and symptoms compatible with Lyme Disease, but which have not lead to serologic confirmation. It is possible that a yet-to-be identified organism is causing a “bulls-eye” rash around the area of a tick bite and the febrile illness that leads patients to seek medical attention in Montana.

Request for reports

We are requesting that physicians and other health care providers report not only serologically confirmed reportable cases of tick-borne disease, but also cases that present with a skin lesion....