Tick bites are at their highest level since 2017, and Lyme disease cases are also increasing. Experts say warmer temperatures and humidity due to climate change are expanding ticks and their habitats.
Warmer temperatures and increased humidity are allowing ticks to thrive in more areas of the US and Canada, including places where people are less familiar with the risks and how to prevent disease. According to Thomas Daniels, director of the Louis Calder Center, Fordham University’s biological field station, Lyme disease is well established in Canada and can be found in humid areas with temperatures above 45 degrees Fahrenheit.
“It likes to be in humid areas, not wet areas,” said Daniels. “If you sample on a lawn that gets baked in the sun all day, you’re not going to find ticks. You go 20 feet into the woods where it’s shady and the temperature’s generally lower and there’s more ground cover, you will find ticks.”
Experts also note that human changes to landscapes and wildlife management are contributing to the expansion of tick habitats. Erin Mordecai, an associate professor of biology at Stanford University, said climate change is increasing the suitability for disease transmission in the US and North America.
While prevention methods are not foolproof, experts stress the importance of prompt tick removal and protective measures. Brian Fallon, director of the Lyme and Tick-Borne Diseases Research Center at Columbia University, advises people to wear more clothes, stay on trails while hiking, conduct regular “tick checks,” and remove attached ticks using tweezers.
Symptoms of Lyme disease may include a rash that expands in size from 5 centimeters or larger, facial palsy, meningitis causing severe headaches, stiff neck, shooting pains, cardiac symptoms such as palpitations or slow rhythms, muscle pain, and fatigue. The infection can be profoundly debilitating, and early recognition is crucial for effective treatment.
Experts emphasize the need for awareness and education on tick-borne diseases, particularly in areas where ticks are expanding their habitats. By taking preventative measures and being aware of the risks, individuals can reduce their chances of getting bitten by a tick and contracting Lyme disease.
Source: https://www.ksl.com/article/51356212/a-warmer-humid-world-where-ticks-thrive-is-increasing-spread-of-lyme-and-other-diseases