Lyme disease testing underway in Ballston Spa as tick cases rise
WNYT.com • • health
Key Points:
- New York State health researchers are actively monitoring the spread of tick-borne diseases, particularly Lyme disease, to better manage public health risks.
- Melissa Prusinki, a research scientist, is conducting fieldwork in Ballston Spa to collect ticks and test for Lyme disease-causing bacteria.
- Lyme disease affects over 20,000 New Yorkers annually, with the black-legged deer tick population having significantly increased statewide since 2000.
- Ticks transmit diseases by biting humans to obtain blood meals, with Lyme disease being the most common bacterial infection spread by these arachnids.
- The spread of tick-borne viruses is occurring in a "stepping stone" pattern, moving from one localized area to new regions across the state.
