Lyme disease is caused by infections of the bacterium Borrelia bu...

Question

Lyme disease is caused by infections of the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi (stained blue in inset, among red blood cells) which is transferred to humans via blood-sucking bites from the tick, Ixodes scapularis. Lyme disease can cause flu-like symptoms in the short term and more serious illnesses in the long term, if not treated. Why is Lyme disease on the rise in eastern North America?

A letter to the editor in a local newspaper asserts that 'we cannot afford to preserve natural forests, because we need to use these resources to help humans.' How could you respond to this comment in terms of Lyme disease?

Accepted Answer

Hi everyone. Let's look at our next question. It says Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that can be spread to humans by infected ticks. Therefore Lyme disease is a blank. We've got four choices here sexually transmitted disease. Airborne disease vector borne disease or waterborne disease. Well the question tells his Lyme disease is spread by infected ticks and diseases spread by infected biting arthropods like ticks. Our vector born diseases with the insect being the vector. Um Examples of vectors. Examples of insects that carry diseases are of course ticks. As we saw here, mosquitoes of course being a major disease vector many places. Um We have the triad. I mean bug more commonly known as the kissing bug sand flies and black flies. All biting arthropods that can be disease vectors. So when we look at our answer choices. Choice C vector borne disease is going to be our correct answer. But let's just look through our other answer choices. Choice A says sexually transmitted disease. This would be a disease transmitted through the exchange of bodily fluids and sexual contact AIDS of course being probably the most famous one. So but not describing Lyme disease transmitted by ticks. Obviously. Choice B. Is airborne disease. That would be where um the virus or the bacteria is carried in air currents and can be inhaled. Someone could be infected by inhaling it. Uh flu common cold measles all airborne diseases Of course they're very difficult to stop the spread. Since you you know things like handwashing um things like that don't aren't effective necessarily against an airborne disease. And then finally Choice D Is waterborne disease that's contracted by ingesting contaminated water sources and a famous historical example that is cholera very, very deadly in many places due to contaminated water, and many parasitic diseases today can be contracted. That's why they tell you not to drink water out of rivers or ponds without sterilizing it first. But again, we're talking about lyme disease spread to humans by infected ticks. Therefore Lyme disease is an example of choice C vector borne disease. See you in the next video.

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