If you have a pet or child that likes to play outdoors, you are probably familiar with ticks. But, contradictory to popular belief, a tick is actually an arachnid, not an insect.
Ticks are the second most common carrier of diseases (mosquitoes being the first). It is estimated that 70% of all Lyme Disease cases are caused by tick bites from ticks in our own yards, often via pets. So tick prevention and control are very important. Some species of ticks are more harmful than others and some are more likely to carry deadly diseases, and we discuss that too.
Lyme disease in the US is caused by the tick-borne bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi, and usually begins with a skin lesion, after which the bacteria spread throughout the body to the nervous system, heart or joints.
Blog powered by TypePad Member since 06/2005 Sitemeter I’m concerned. People quickly reading this New York Daily News article may falsely conclude that you can only get Lyme disease in wooded or rural areas in Connecticut, New Jersey, Long Island and Westchster County.
Dr. David P. Calfee of Mount Sinai says outdoor exposure is the main risk factor for tick-borne diseases.
