Tick, tick, tick

By CONNIE MERTZ

“Don’t get ticked,” may be the catch phrase of the summer. In my neck of the woods, they seem to be more abundant than ever. According to Steven Jacobs, extension entomologist at Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, blacklegged ticks are on the move in Pennsylvania. We refer to them more commonly as deer ticks, smaller versions of the blacklegged tick.

If they were harmless, there would be no need for concern; after all, we endure mosquitoes and bees and other pesky insects. However, the deer tick spreads Lyme disease, a neurological disorder that can cause havoc with the human body and is oftentimes extremely difficult to diagnose correctly. In fact, according to Jacobs, the cases of Lyme disease have shown a shocking increase. In 1990, there were 700 known cases of Lyme disease and by 2000, more than 2,300 cases were diagnosed. In fact, the Keystone state now ranks third in the entire nation of new cases each year. Whether there really are more cases of the dreaded disease or that people are just more aware is an unknown, but Lyme disease is responsible for more than 90 percent of vector-borne diseases in the U.S.

Adult ticks are found on many animals and birds, and if pets are outdoors, it’s best to check them frequently for ticks. Ticks can be brought indoors and spread to anyone inside the house. It’s best to avoid walking through brushy areas or sitting on leaf litter. Deer ticks are very tiny (about the size of a pencil point) and oftentimes go undetected until they are imbedded deep into the skin.