AI Generated Image
What to know as ticks spread to new regions and bring new threats
PBS • • general
Key Points:
- Tick populations are surging this summer across many parts of the U.S., leading to a sharp increase in emergency room visits for tick bites, with numbers not seen in about a decade.
- Beyond Lyme disease, ticks are now spreading new health threats like Alpha-gal syndrome, a condition triggered by lone star tick bites that causes a delayed allergy to red meat and dairy products.
- The rise in ticks is linked to growing white-tailed deer populations and human expansion into wooded suburban and exurban areas where ticks thrive.
- Preventative measures include staying on trails, checking for ticks regularly on yourself, children, and pets, and using repellents like DEET or permethrin-treated clothing.
- If bitten, the safest way to remove a tick is with tweezers by pulling it straight out without twisting or crushing, followed by cleaning the area promptly to reduce the risk of infection.
