UNITED STATES – According to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), emergency room visits for tick bites are at their highest level since 2017, and reported cases of Lyme disease continue to rise. Experts attribute this trend to climate change, which is creating warmer temperatures and expanding the habitats of disease-carrying ticks.
Lyme disease-carrying deer ticks are most active when temperatures are above 45°F and thrive in humid environments. Experts note that as temperatures rise due to climate change, ticks are expanding into new areas of the U.S. and Canada, including regions where residents may be less familiar with the associated risks.
Dr. Thomas Daniels, director of Fordham University’s Louis Calder Center, explains that ticks prefer shady, humid areas with ground cover, like forests, rather than sunny lawns. Changes in land use and the management of wildlife populations, such as white-tailed deer, also play a significant role in where ticks are found.
Understanding and Preventing Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, which is transmitted through the saliva of a feeding deer tick. During their nymph stage, when they are most active, these ticks are tiny—about the size of a poppy seed—making them easy to miss.
Dr. Brian Fallon, director of the Lyme and Tick-Borne Diseases Research Center at Columbia University, says that while the classic bull’s-eye rash is a known symptom, a more common presentation is a pink or reddish rash that expands in size. Untreated Lyme disease can lead to severe, debilitating symptoms affecting the heart, central nervous system, and other parts of the body.
To prevent infection, experts recommend a multi-pronged approach:
- Wear protective clothing: Opt for long sleeves and pants, and consider treating clothing with permethrin, an insecticide that repels ticks.
- Stay on trails when hiking, as ticks are prevalent in wooded and leafy areas.
- Conduct a “tick check” after spending time outdoors, as it can be challenging to spot ticks on your own back or other hard-to-reach areas.
- Remove ticks immediately: The key is to get the tick off as quickly as possible. For Lyme disease, it takes at least 24 to 48 hours for the bacterium to be transmitted. Use tweezers to remove the tick from underneath its body, and avoid using other methods like burning it off.
