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What Does 2021 Summer’s Tick Season Look Like?

With warmer weather arriving, people are getting excited about spending more time outdoors in nature. The pandemic has made the warmer months even more desirable for people looking to get out of their homes. Being outdoors is great for health in a variety of different ways. It can help boost immunity, reduce stress, and relieve some symptoms of mental illness. But when you’re outdoors, there are some pests that can be a real nuisance. One of those pests is the tick.

Ticks are found in the wooded areas that many people like to frequent in the summer months. But they aren’t just an annoyance. Ticks, primarily black-legged and deer ticks, can harbor bacteria that can cause diseases such as Lyme disease. This doesn’t mean that you should avoid going outside, but knowing what to expect from the 2021 summer tick season will help you be better prepared to avoid contracting an illness from a tick bite.

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Infectolab - tick on plant
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What Extreme Weather Conditions Will Mean For The Global Tick Population

For Lyme disease to thrive in the United States, tick populations also need to thrive. It’s a cyclical occurrence that when ticks have a “good” year, Lyme disease numbers tend to increase. With the global onset of environmental changes, though, the effects on the United States climate have been detrimental.

Consider the wildfires that rage through California. Although climate change may not be a direct cause, it is a threat multiplier, meaning that it increases the risk that such events will be worse than in previous years. But what does this have to do with tick populations and Lyme disease?

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Infectolab - tick season spring
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Spring Is The Beginning Of Tick Season: 3 Ways You Can Protect Yourself

With spring quickly approaching, the promise of sunny days and warmer weather is enough to get anyone excited about swapping the winter coats for T-shirts and shorts. By the time March 21 rolls around, the ability to go for a hike through the woods is high on the priority list of many outdoor enthusiasts. But warm weather comes with a few downsides, too. The answer to “Is spring the beginning of tick season?” is an unfortunate yes.

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Which States Are Most At Risk for Tick Bites?

An increasing number of ticks and other vector-borne disease cases have been reported in the US in the last several years. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that there were more than 640,000 cases between 2004 and 2016. Diseases from ticks, mosquitoes, and fleas actually tripled during that time period. Although mosquitoes pass on more diseases, ticks can cause conditions (such as Lyme disease) that are debilitating, difficult to diagnose, and challenging to treat. Here’s a look at which states are the most at risk for tick bites. Continue reading “Which States Are Most At Risk for Tick Bites?”