As the Bay Area gears up for the great outdoors, there's a less welcome sign of spring buzzing in the background: tick season. According to CBS News New York, hospitals in the Northeast have reported a surge in emergency room visits due to tick bites, and the numbers are resembling those typically seen in early June. Dr. Richard Ostfeld of the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies attributes the "galloping start" of this season to a warmer climate, which might indicate an uptick, no pun intended, in tick-borne illnesses.
Not all ticks are harbingers of disease, as Dr. Evan Cohen of Northwell Health Northern Westchester Hospital points out, but the caution is warranted. Despite most ticks being disease-free, "Most ticks do not carry Lyme disease, do not carry babesiosis, or anaplasmosis, so not to be alarmed," Cohen said, but the risk skyrockets if a tick is engorged and has been on the body for an extensive period. The key is early removal and proactive measures like tick checks and repellents, as reported by CBS News New York.
In tandem, upstate New York is seeing a similar trend. Dr. Saravanan Thangamani of Upstate Medical University’s Tick Testing Laboratory noted a "steep increase" in both tick encounters and disease-carrying ticks. Of 442 ticks assessed, a striking percentage were carriers of Lyme, babesiosis, and anaplasmosis-causing pathogens. "This puts humans and pets at increased risk of acquiring a tick-borne disease," Thangamani told Spectrum News. With no vaccines available for these conditions, the emphasis this season is on prevention.
It's not just about slathering on the bug spray. Seasoned experts are dishing out a few simple, but vital safety tips: wear long pants, apply repellent to exposed skin and attire, and inspect your body post-hike, prioritizing the thighs, groin, and back of the head. Pet owners should ramp up their vigilance too, regularly checking their furry friends for ticks and consulting their vet for preventatives. For those who find a tick latched onto skin or fur, refer to resources like nyticks.org for guidance on tick submission and more info.
