ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. – Environmental experts are warning that this tick season is expected to be worse than previous years due to climate change. This year is proving to be no exception.
What You Need To Know
- Peak season for nymphs will be in early May instead of mid-May or June
- Second peak, when ticks are adults, will be in August
- It’s projected 80% of nymphs have Lyme disease this year in some areas
These numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show emergency department visits for tick bites in the Northeast ending on April 26. The data, dating back to 2017, indicates a significant increase in cases this year.
The data reinforces the need for safety reminders and an understanding of why this tick season is expected to be particularly severe. Ticks become active when the temperature is just above freezing, hiding in leaves and on tree branches and bushes.
Currently, we are in the nymph stage of the black-legged (deer) tick, which is a tick’s third stage of life, making them small and the size of a poppy seed. Park Ranger Chuck Bartlett from the Erie County Parks Department notes that nymphs typically transmit Lyme disease, not adults.
The increase in tick population and disease transmission can be attributed to a previous surplus of acorns, leading to a larger food source for small mammals like mice. Bartlett explains that once a tick feeds off an infected mouse, it can transmit Lyme disease to subsequent hosts.
Bartlett warns that the number of nymphs infected with Lyme disease has doubled this year, with a projected 80% infection rate. It takes 24 to 48 hours for a tick to transmit the disease, and the peak season is expected to arrive sooner than usual.
Preventative measures recommended by Bartlett and the CDC include wearing light-colored clothing, tucking pants into socks, using insect repellent containing specific ingredients, and walking in the center of trails. After any outdoor activity, thoroughly check for ticks in common hiding spots on the body.
If bitten by a tick, monitor your health for symptoms such as fever, rash, fatigue, and joint pain for 30 days. It is advised to send the tick for testing and take precautions to prevent tick movement indoors.
These safety measures are crucial as experts predict a challenging tick season ahead.
