PRUDENCE ISLAND - As a public health nurse in Massachusetts for 17 years and resident of Prudence Island for over 40 years, I am deeply concerned about the overabundance of deer on the island and the resultant epidemic of Lyme disease.

Many studies have concluded that drastically reducing or eliminating the deer population will result in less incidence of Lyme disease. Nevertheless, to date nothing concrete has been done to address this issue here on the island.

My family has had too much firsthand experience with Lyme disease. Eight members of my immediate family have contacted the disease.

The earliest experience was with my daughter Nancy. In 1973, when she was five years old, she developed a very mysterious rash with flu-like symptoms. Our pediatrician in Walpole, Mass. was perplexed, but chose to treat her with a regime of penicillin. This probably saved her from more serious complications, although she did develop arthritis in several large joints. All of this happened at a time when Lyme disease did not have a name.

I could go into more detail concerning my own family. Various complications such as pericarditis, heart block, facial nerve involvement, and arthritis have all been traced to Lyme disease. We are not an isolated family here on the island. Many of my friends and neighbors have similar horror stories to tell. Just recently a neighbor's son was hospitalized with unusual neurological symptoms, probably due to Lyme disease.

These are not unusual long-term effects. I quote this statement from the New England Journal of Medicine of June 2003 titled How Can We Prevent Lyme Disease? "The cooperative engagement of public health officials, clinicians and residents of the effected communities will make it possible to reduce the incidence of Lyme disease."

Public officials must work with other official agencies (i.e. Division of Fish and Wildlife) here in Rhode Island. A conclusion of the survey done by the estuarine research preserve in the fall and winter of 2003-2004 noted that residents favored a large reduction in the island herd. This contradicts "the opinions stated by a small but vocal minority who were opposed to a deer herd reduction on Prudence Island in the past." It is up to the official agencies of the town (Portsmouth) and state (Rhode Island) to implement this now.

Clinicians need to be more aware and vigilant to the signs and symptoms of Lyme disease. Emergency department personnel need to listen carefully to patient histories of those who present symptoms, however vague. Infectious disease specialists should be consulted in a more timely fashion.

Lastly, residents on Prudence Island need to continue to be more vocal to both Portsmouth officials and state agencies. Town officials should be in the forefront in this matter.

I dare venture that if an epidemic of measles, pertussis, or polio were to occur, officials would be much more concerned. Lyme disease can be and is just as serious and debilitating, and Lyme disease is epidemic on Prudence Island.

BY NANCY GRADY

Registered nurse, public health