Rising Tick Concerns: The Expanding Threat of Lyme Disease

Ticks are increasingly becoming a problem regardless of where you reside. Lyme disease, a relatively recent scientific discovery, was first linked to ticks in the late 1970s to early 1980s. The tick-borne illness, which can result in symptoms like rash, fever, muscle and joint pain, neurological issues, and even facial paralysis, is transmitted by only two of the nearly 50 tick species found in the United States.

Historically, most Lyme disease cases were concentrated in small regions such as the Great Lakes and northeastern parts of the US. However, due to changing temperatures, animal migration, and shifts in land use, the areas inhabited by ticks are expanding.

This expansion means an increased risk of Lyme disease for more individuals across the country. You may even have to worry about Lyme disease in your backyard.

If you’re interested in more discussions about pests and parasites, you can email your questions to [email protected].

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This episode was produced by Rachel Carlson, edited by Rebecca Ramirez, with fact-checking by Tyler Jones. The audio engineering was done by Annlie Huang.