{"id":10482,"date":"2024-03-11T12:59:55","date_gmt":"2024-03-11T16:59:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/ticks\/?page_id=10482"},"modified":"2025-09-29T15:49:20","modified_gmt":"2025-09-29T19:49:20","slug":"healthcare-provider","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/ticks\/healthcare-provider\/","title":{"rendered":"Clinician Resources for Tick-borne Diseases"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"\"<\/p>\n

On this page you will find information for healthcare providers about ticks of medical importance<\/a> in Virginia, tickborne diseases that are reportable in Virginia<\/a>, as well as diseases that may be emerging, but are not reportable.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Information for General Public<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>

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Handouts & Social Media Toolkit<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Surveillance Case Definitions<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>
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Several tickborne diseases are reportable in Virginia. For more information about disease reporting, please visit VDH Disease Reporting and Control Regulations<\/a>. Questions about disease reporting should be directed to <\/span>your<\/span> <\/span>local health department<\/span><\/span><\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Standardized surveillance case definitions<\/span><\/span><\/a> are used <\/span>to<\/span> determ<\/span>in<\/span>e<\/span> if a reported case meets specific criteria to be included in case counts<\/span> <\/span>for <\/span>the purposes of <\/span>public health surveillance<\/span>.<\/span><\/span> Case definitions usually rely on a combination of clinical, laboratory, and epidemiologic criteria to evaluate the strength of the evidence and then classify the reported case as either a confirmed case, probable case, suspect case, or not a case.<\/span> Surveillance case definitions enable public health officials to classify and count cases consistently across reporti<\/span>ng<\/span> j<\/span>urisdicti<\/span>on<\/span>s<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>Surveillance case definitions are not intended to be used by healthcare providers for making a clinical diagnosis <\/span>or<\/span> d<\/span>etermin<\/span>in<\/span>g<\/span> how to meet an individual patient\u2019s health needs.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>

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General Considerations for Tickborne Diseases<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>
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Exposure to ticks can occur from outdoor activities or from exposure to pets that spend time outdoors. People who are active outdoors (especially in certain habitats<\/a>) have a higher chance of tick exposure. Up to half of all people bitten by a tick do not <\/span>remember being bitten<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Diagnostic considerations presented below should not replace clinical judgment when managing an individual patient for whom tickborne disease is part of a differential diagnosis. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Antibodies to many infectious causes of tickborne diseases take an average of 7-10 days following illness onset to reach detectable levels<\/span><\/b> and a negative result during the first week of illness is common. A measurable titer in the first week of illness is generally reflective of past exposure and not current illness.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Antibodies for many infectious causes of tickborne diseases remain elevated for months to years after initial infection<\/span><\/b>. Serial antibody monitoring should not be used <\/span>to assess if a person is \"<\/span>c<\/span>ured,\"<\/span>\u00a0and persistently elevated titers do not indicate ongoing infection.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>

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Disease-Specific Information and Considerations*<\/h3>\n

*indicates which diseases are reportable in Virginia<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Alpha-Gal Syndrome*<\/h4>\n
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Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) is an acquired allergy to mammalian meat or meat products and is a reportable disease in Virginia. AGS is associated with the bit of the lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum<\/em>). Clinical manifestations of AGS can range from mild to severe and are characterized by a delayed reaction to mammalian meat (e.g., 3-6 hours after ingestion). Symptoms may include hives, angioedema, diarrhea, vomiting, and anaphylaxis.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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