Lyme Reaches Alaska

Outdoor research

The bacteria responsible for Lyme disease, a tick-borne malady that can cause crippling, arthritis-like pain, has been found in Alaska for the first time. No cases of Lyme disease has been reported there, however.

Ticks living among seabird colonies in southeast Alaska are carrying the bacteria, University of Alaska researchers found.

The only people likely to contract the bacteria are seabird researchers or natives who hunt seabirds for subsistence, authorities said.

Ducks don’t usually nest in densities sufficient to support ticks.