Pa. ranks No. 1 in US for Lyme disease cases

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — As spring temperatures rise, many people will spend more time on outdoor activities, increasing their risk of encountering pathogen-carrying ticks.

To help the public avoid tick bites, Penn State Extension experts are observing Lyme Disease Awareness Month in May by reminding people about various resources available to aid in protecting themselves, pets, horses and loved ones from Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases.

Lyme disease affects more than 475,000 people each year, according to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Reports on this tick-borne pathogen indicate that Pennsylvania ranks No. 1 in the country for the number of Lyme disease cases per year.

Ticks transmit disease-causing pathogens through their bites. Early symptoms of Lyme disease may include headache, fever, sore throat and nausea, according to extension experts. If left untreated, the disease can cause debilitating rheumatologic, cardiac and neurological conditions.

Education. To educate the public about tick risk and tick bite prevention, Penn State Extension offers many resources, including the “Tick Webinar Series.” These free recorded webinars concentrate on ticks and tick control in working and hunting dogs, companion pets and horses. They provide practical steps that pet and horse owners can take to minimize the risk of tick bites.

The webinars also cover tick protection for the home and backyard, tick habitats, and common tickborne diseases. Hunters who spend long days in the Pennsylvania woods may benefit from a webinar focused on methods to avoid insect bites and vector-borne diseases during hunting season.

Extension also offers tick removal kits for $18. This zippered pouch contains tools and instructions for removing ticks from human skin. The kit includes a tweezer, magnifying glass, triple antibiotic ointment, tick collection and testing cards and other equipment. Extension also offers tick removal kits specifically for pets or horses for $15. Prevention. Machtinger pointed to the following recommendations for preventing tick bites and tickborne diseases:

• Avoid tick-infested areas, especially in May, June and July.

• Wear light-colored clothing to easily spot ticks.

• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants. Tuck your pants into your boots.