The tick-bourne disease is present in Australia and around the world. Cases have been confirmed in the Camden Haven.

Despite compelling evidence the NSW Health Department continues to deny the disease’s existence in Australia.

NSW Health says Lyme disease is caused by the Borrelia bacteria found on infected ticks.

“This group of ticks is found in Asia, Europe and North America, but not in Australia,” the health department’s website states.

“In the 1990s, 12,000 ticks were collected from different parts of NSW and were tested for Borrelia bacteria. No evidence of Borrelia infection could be found in any of the ticks collected.

“In April 2011, NSW Health convened an expert panel with expertise in public health, epidemiology, infectious diseases, rickettsial diseases and entomology to provide advice on the current risk of Lyme disease in NSW. The panel concluded that although locally-acquired Lyme disease cannot be ruled out, there is little evidence that it occurs in Australia. The panel also noted that there was a continuing risk of overseas-acquired Lyme disease being imported into NSW.

“Lyme disease is not a notifiable disease in NSW.

“Although locally-acquired Lyme disease cannot be ruled out, there is little evidence that it occurs in Australia. However, there is a continuing risk of people acquiring this serious infection while travelling overseas in affected areas.”

Dr Mayne has published several articles on Lyme disease, proving the disease exists in Australia and has diagnosed 160 patients from around the nation with Lyme disease, some who have never left the country.

“We have two hotspots here in the Camden Haven for ticks carrying Lyme disease and Babesiosis,” Dr Mayne said.

“A man from Canberra died last year from Babesiosis. I’ve been treating the first stage of Lyme disease since 1990 when I moved to Laurieton. I’ve been treating the chronic form since 2009, a handful of them in Laurieton.”

Dr Mayne said he studied Lyme disease because patients were being misdiagnosed. Lyme disease is known in the medical world as ‘the great imitator’ because its symptoms mimic many other illnesses.

“I was seeing people with Lyme disease being mistreated and misdiagnosed and I did not want to let that stand,” Dr Mayne said.

“People were being told they had MS or Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue etc when it was really underlying Lyme disease.

“The disease is able to be better detected now but the trouble is the testing needs to be done in America. They have the only reliable and valid tests.”

Diagnosis of Lyme disease comes from blood testing, sometimes a tissue sample from the bite site and testing of the tick itself.

Dr Mayne said his medical centre sends multiple blood samples to the US every Tuesday.

If Dr Mayne sees a patient with symptoms, or reports being bitten by a tick, his response is quick.

“I would start a treatment of antibiotics straight away,” Dr Mayne said.

“We can’t diagnose positive Lyme disease in the blood, sometimes as long as six weeks after the bite and that’s too long to wait to start treatment.”

Lyme disease attacks almost every part of the body, which is why it is often misdiagnosed.

If caught early, the disease is treated simply by a course of antibiotics over several weeks. In the chronic stages of the disease, treatment is more complex. If it is not diagnosed Lyme disease can be fatal.

Being aware of

Lyme disease

Dr Mayne says:

After walking in the open, check for ticks on your body, get a partner to help with checking your back and hair, check your children carefully

Look for any small, red eruption the size of a 20 cent piece that may appear in the two weeks following a bite or exposure to the open. This is not an allergic reaction, see a doctor straight away

If possible, try not to damage the tick during removal and keep the tick in a container in the freezer so it can be tested for Lyme disease (Dr Mayne will send it to the University of Newcastle)

At times people can be bitten by the nymph form of the tick and not realize they have been bitten, so look out for symptoms including local skin reaction, fever, headache, muscle or joint aches, other flu-like symptoms, stiff neck, swollen lymph nodes, weakness

Removing a tick

*Do NOT try to burn the tick with a match or other hot object.

*Do NOT twist the tick when pulling it out.

*Do NOT try to kill, smother, or lubricate the tick with oil, alcohol, vaseline, or similar material.

*Call your doctor if you have not been able to remove the entire tick.

*Grasp the tick close to its head or mouth with tweezers. Do not use your bare fingers. If needed, use a tissue or paper towel.

*Pull it straight out with a slow and steady motion. Avoid squeezing or crushing the tick. Be careful not to leave the head embedded in the skin.

*Clean the area thoroughly with soap and water. Also wash your hands thoroughly.

*Save the tick in a jar and watch carefully for the next week or two for signs of Lyme disease.

*If all parts of the tick cannot be removed, get medical help. Bring the tick in the jar to your doctor’s appointment.