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Concord health staff report uptick in tick-borne disease and a local alpha-gal case; officials outline outreach
Summary
April surveillance showed 10 Lyme disease cases and other reportable conditions; staff reported one locally acquired alpha-gal syndrome case and described planned tick outreach, sunscreen dispensers and education projects.
The Concord Health Division reported disease surveillance and outreach updates at the Board of Health meeting on May 20. April data included eight influenza cases, three COVID-19 cases, 10 Lyme disease cases, one latent tuberculosis case, three hepatitis B cases, four campylobacteriosis cases, one human granulocytic anaplasmosis case, one varicella case and one alpha-gal syndrome case. Health staff said alpha-gal — a delayed red-meat allergy linked to lone star tick exposure — is now a reportable condition in the state Maven system as of April.
Public health nurse Katie Stanislasic described outreach activities: pre-camp inspections, a Yellow Tulip Project ice-cream social (about 12 attendees), social-media education including a tick-tube how-to video, placement of a tick-awareness display at the library with an upcoming tabling event, and installation of sunscreen dispensers at four outdoor sites with plans to monitor stock at two locations.
Board members and an ER clinician–identified speaker discussed alpha-gal’s clinical presentation — sensitization by tick bite followed by delayed (3–8 hour) allergic reactions to red meat — and noted the lone star tick’s documented range includes the region. Staff urged residents to save and document ticks for identification and to consult providers for testing and follow-up. The board flagged tick outreach focused on children at school playgrounds and agreed to continue public education on prevention and tick testing options.
No public-health emergency was declared. Staff emphasized prevention, reporting and ongoing surveillance and said they will continue to coordinate with regional partners on tick and mosquito surveillance.
