Cases of four such diseases have jumped considerably compared with the five-year median: Ehrlichiosis, up to 117 cases from 40; Rocky Mountain spotted fever cases, to 186 cases from 64; tularemia, to 18 cases from 12; and Lyme disease, to 35 cases from 22. The health department says the rise in infections is due in large part to increased recognition and reporting by physicians, as well as changes in lifestyle, including more homes built in old forests and more time spent outdoors.
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