Throughout history, various plagues, epidemics, and pandemics, such as the Black Plage and the Bubonic Plague, have caused major atrocities worldwide, some wiping out at least 1/4 of the population. The ability of an infectious disease to spread either directly or indirectly is indeed frightening as it may lead to the rapid spread of such egregious diseases. Among the hundreds of infectious diseases to known today, this essay serves to provide an all around look into Lyme Disease.
             Lyme Disease, is an infection caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, which can be transmitted by the bite of certain species of ticks. Two related ticks that are known for transmitting the disesase is lxodes scapularis and lxodes pacificus. Sscapularis the black-legged tick is found in the eastern U.S . Pacificus, the western black-legged tick, is on the West Coast. Keep in mind that lxodes species are smaller than the common American "dog tick," which does not transmit the Lyme Disease causing spirochetes but can transmit the agent of Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Also The disease starts as a skin rash and can progress to more serious stages involving joint, nerve or heart tissue. Lyme Disease has been reported in at least 47 states
             A typical early symptom of Lyme Disease is a slowly developing red rash at the site of the tick bite. The rash usually appears within a week to a month after the bite and can slowly expand over several days. Sometimes there are several, secondary skin rashes. This large rash should not be confused with the harmless red spot that usually is seen immediately after receiving the bite Other common symptoms of early Lyme Disease with or without the rash are flu-like, and include fatigue, headache, neck stiffness, jaw discomfort, pain or stiffness in muscles or joints, slight fever, swollen glands, or reddening of the eyes. If untreated, Lyme Disease can progress to more serious stages. In these later stages of the dis...