Pennsylvania authorities warn of rise in disease-carrying ticks

Authorities in Pennsylvania are warning of an upsurge in ticks this summer, including blacklegged ticks, carriers of Lyme disease, as well as invasive ticks from the southern United States and Asia.

The state’s acting GP Denise Johnson said it was the time of year when ticks are most active, noting that “this year we are seeing more of them than ever”.

She said there had been an increase in tick bites as well as Lyme disease.

“In Pennsylvania, every county in the state has ticks that carry Lyme disease,” Johnson said. “And then ticks can be carriers of other diseases as well… this summer, don’t let a tick make you sick.”

Officials say there are not only more ticks, but more people have started exploring the outdoors during the pandemic, flocking to many of the Commonwealth’s 121 state parks. This has led to more tick encounters – and bites.

However, they did not say why there might be more ticks than usual this year, only that tick populations may vary from year to year, fluctuating depending on environmental factors such as temperature. , humidity, precipitation and host availability.

” READ MORE: Interest in Pennsylvania State Parks has only grown even as pandemic restrictions are lifted

Blacklegged ticks, also called deer ticks, spread the blood-borne infection Lyme disease, now the most common vector-borne disease in the United States. Symptoms are marked by fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic rash. If left untreated, the infection can spread to the joints, heart, and nervous system.

The same ticks also spread the anaplasmosis bacteria and Powassan viruses, both of which share similar symptoms of fever, headache, vomiting, and weakness.

State scientists from the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Health collected 5,000 adult blacklegged tick nymphs this year as part of an annual survey. DEP secretary Patrick McDonnell said 58% of people are carriers of Lyme disease.

Last year, between April and August, scientists collected 1,200.

“We’re on track to double that number this year,” McDonnell said. “We currently have nearly 500 nymphs ahead of last year and we still have August to go.”

McDonnell said most people get Lyme disease from the nymphs because they are so small, the size of a poppy seed, and difficult to spot.

But Pennsylvania has also seen a trend in New Jersey in recent years: the emergence of a variety of other ticks on the move from elsewhere.

” READ MORE: NJ has at least 11 species of ticks, and some make us sick

“We are starting to see additional ticks … like the Asian longhorn and the lonely star who are starting to settle in the state, ”McDonnell said. “So this is a problem that is going to be with us in the future.”

Cindy Adams Dunn, secretary of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, said her husband has Lyme disease and advises people who go outdoors to wear light long sleeves and long pants tucked into boots.

“It’s always important to take preventative measures so that you can reap the mental and physical health benefits of being outdoors, especially when it comes to ticks,” Dunn said. “As tick-borne illnesses become more prevalent in Pennsylvania, being aware of the risks and being prepared is essential. “

She said people can use EPA-approved repellents, such as permethrin, a non-toxic insecticide that can be sprayed on clothing and boots.

Authorities also recommend that people avoid dense areas of shrubs or tall grass where ticks like to hide, and check themselves and pets immediately upon their return home. They advise taking a shower as soon as possible and putting clothes and equipment in a dryer to kill ticks.