Then read on to learn about why cases of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases are increasing and what you can do to protect yourself. The majority of cases of Lyme disease in the U. Specifically, most cases are found in the following 15 states , plus Washington D. In fact, Lyme disease has been found in all 50 states. According to a study, Arizona is the number 1 state for increases in Lyme disease cases — followed by two Southern states further down on this list.
Georgia comes in at number 3 on the list of states with the highest increase in rates of Lyme in the U. The number of incidences of Lyme disease in this Midwestern state has increased every single year since , when there were 21 confirmed cases. In , there were Another southwestern state, Texas is probably better known for its wild hog problem than for tick-borne diseases. According to CDC data, there has been at least one reported case of Lyme disease in Alaska every year since , hitting a peak in with 14 confirmed cases.
A report described four patients with confirmed Lyme disease in Mexico. The patients had never traveled outside of Mexico and had most likely contracted the disease while camping in or visiting forests in Mexico, suggesting that B. Recent research has found people infected with not only B.
Experts point to a few reasons for the expansion of Lyme and other tick-borne illnesses in the U. Rising temperatures associated with climate change mean longer summers and warmer year-round temperatures. Most recent estimates are of , new cases of Lyme in the US every year. Scientists estimate that two million people could suffer from post-treatment Lyme disease at the end of Lyme disease has also been found in 80 countries. Lyme disease is transmitted through the bite of an infected black-legged tick.
Ticks look for hosts to feed—hosts can include pets, deer, mice, birds, squirrels, some reptiles, and yes, people. The length of time for a tick to transmit disease can vary based on the type of tick and the stage of the tick nymph vs. Experimental studies have shown that the Powassan virus , transmitted by black-legged ticks, can be transmitted within 15 minutes of attachment. Research shows that Lyme-causing bacteria takes more than 24 hours to transmit from tick to host, but there are many debates and caveats on exact transmission time.
Children aged 3 to 14 are at the greatest risk for contracting Lyme disease, due in part to being more active outdoors, with more than cases per day. The next age group most at risk is people over 50, who are also more involved in outdoor leisure activities like gardening, hiking, or playing golf. People who work outdoors for a living, including landscapers, utility workers, and farmers have an occupational risk for a tick bite. Pets who go outdoors, like dogs and cats, may bring ticks into the house and should be checked upon entering the home.
Ticks are not just a suburban problem; they are everywhere including urban areas and cities. Many people get bitten by a tick in their own yards and local parks.
Use a tarp when sitting on the ground. Carefully examine your body, clothing, gear, and pets for ticks before entering a dwelling. Promptly remove ticks using tweezers by grasping the tick's head and mouth parts as much as possible and by pulling perpendicular from the skin.
See How to: Tick Edition for videos on removing ticks correctly. Thoroughly disinfect the bite site with soap and water or disinfectant. If travelling in an endemic area, save the tick in a zip-lock bag or container for up to 10 days refrigerate live ticks; keep dead ticks in the freezer. Write down the date and location of your contact with the tick.
Your healthcare practitioner may advise you to submit the tick for testing. If you develop symptoms of a tick-borne disease, contact your healthcare practitioner immediately. Apply sunscreen first followed by the repellent preferably 20 minutes later.
More details on insect bite prevention. There is no preventive vaccine or medication against Lyme Disease. Relapsing Fevers and other Borrelia Diseases. Tropical Infectious Diseases.
New York: Saunders Elsevier; Describes techniques used to estimate the number people diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease each year. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. Lyme Disease. Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate.
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