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Weekly Update – May 13th – First Surveillance of 2024 Shows Black Fly Activity, Some Mosquitoes
May 21, 2024
Dragging cloths through wooded areas is one method of tick surveillance.
Lyme Disease cases have increased in Minnesota and throughout the United States over the past several decades. Here are some things to know.
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection caused by the bite of an infected blacklegged tick (also known as a deer tick). In the year 2022 Minnesota had 2,685 probable cases of Lyme disease reported by the Minnesota Department of Health, which is a more than five-fold increase from the year 2000. Lyme disease was first identified in Connecticut in 1975 among a group of children who were thought to have juvenile arthritis. Information on Lyme disease in Minnesota was first collected in 1982 and the disease has since become endemic, affecting thousands of people in almost every county of the state.
May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month so we've provided some information to help people become familiar with this illness:
How do people get Lyme disease?
In Minnesota and other parts of the country, Lyme disease is transmitted through the bite of an infected blacklegged or "deer" tick. The white-footed mouse is the reservoir for a bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi. Blacklegged ticks in the larvae or nymph stage of their life cycle will feed on white-footed mice and become infected with Borrelia burgdorferi. When those same ticks mature and bite another host, they transmit that bacteria which leads to infection with Lyme disease. Not all mammals are susceptible to Lyme disease, but humans and dogs often develop symptoms if the bacteria is transmitted.
It is estimated that one of out of every three adult blacklegged ticks and one out of every five nymphs are infected with Lyme disease bacteria. Ticks must be attached to their host for about 24-48 hours before the bacteria is transmitted and the longer a tick is attached the higher the likelihood of bacteria transmission.
Blacklegged ticks "quest" for a host in wooded areas or near lots of brush. Questing involves climbing onto a branch or other vegetation, extending their front legs, and using their hooks to attach to the fur or fabric of a host. Ticks do not fly or jump and usually grasp onto their host near the ground.
Why are Lyme disease cases on the rise?
After being introduced on the East coast of the United States, Lyme disease has since spread to almost every state with especially high concentrations in the Northeast and the Midwest. Minnesota consistently ranks as one of the top 10 states for Lyme disease transmission, according to the CDC, and 2022 saw the highest number of cases in the state since tracking began.
One of the factors that has contributed to a rise in Lyme disease cases is changing land use patterns. Development in suburban and rural areas has brought humans into closer contact with deer, mice, squirrels, and other animals that may be harboring ticks. The lack of predators for smaller mammals has allowed them, and the ticks they carry, to thrive in areas where humans live.
Climate change may also be a factor in the increase of Lyme disease. Milder winters might allow more ticks to survive and bring potential diseases back the following spring. There are several studies that link changes in climate with increased instances of several vector-borne diseases including Lyme disease. People should plan for Lyme disease to be a significant health threat for many years to come.
What are the symptoms of Lyme disease?
Typically the first symptom of a bite from a blacklegged tick is a bullseye rash with a red center and reddish outline. Not everyone who is infected with Lyme disease will have the rash, however. Within 30 days initial symptoms may include fever or chills, muscle or joint pain, fatigue, headache, or weakness and a lack of energy. Contact your doctor if you notice any of the above symptoms.
If left untreated, more serious symptoms may develop including multiple rashes, paralysis in part of the face, numbness in the arms or legs, irregular heartbeat, or joint swelling.
Treatments for Lyme disease usually involve antibiotics, like doxycycline. It is possible to get Lyme disease more than once so precautions should be taken even after the symptoms are cleared up.
How can I reduce my risk of Lyme disease?
To avoid bites from ticks that can potentially carry Lyme disease there are a couple important steps you can take:
- Be able to identify tick habitat and check yourself after you've been in it.
- Deer ticks harbor in wooded or brushy areas, so ensure you stay on trails and avoid coming into contact with brush or vegetation that can potentially be harboring ticks.
- After being near tick habitat, check your whole body for ticks. Be sure to also check kids and pets.
- Remove ticks as soon as you find them. If they've already attached, use a tweezer or your fingers to grasp as close to the mouth as possible and pull up. Wash the area with soap and warm water.
- Protect yourself from tick bites.
- Use DEET-based insect repellent on skin.
- Pre-treat clothing and gear with Permethrin, which will actively repel ticks and mosquitoes.
- Wear light colored clothing to spot ticks more easily.
- Wear long pants and tuck them into your socks to make it more difficult for ticks to access skin.
- Tumble dry clothing after being in tick habitat for at least 60 minutes.
- Use a flea and tick preventative on your dog - talk to your veterinarian to get the recommended product for the breed.
- Reduce tick activity in your yard.
- Keep grass short and mow regularly.
- Remove leaves, wood piles, and brush.
- Create a barrier between mowed lawns and woods - rocks or wood chips work well.
- Many of the tips in our Resident's Guide for mosquitoes also work for ticks!
Be sure you are taking these precautions and being tick safe during these busy summer months and you can help reduce the spread of Lyme disease!
Sources and Further Reading:
