4 New Diseases Carried by Ticks to Be Aware of
Everyone knows about EEE, West Nile, Lyme and Zika, but those are not the only insect carried disease that wreak havoc in New England. Diseases that have become more common over the last year are mainly carried by ticks. These include Powassan, Babesiosis, Anaplasmosis, and Tularemia. You may not have heard of these in the past but they are slowly becoming more prevalent in the New England area.
Powassan is the newest to our area over the last year. This disease creates symptoms such as fever, headache, vomiting, weakness, confusion, seizures and memory loss. Like many mosquito and tick carried diseases there is no cure for this disease. Many people who contract the disease do not show any symptoms but 10% of the cases can become fatal.
Another disease new to the area is Babesiosis. Unlike Powassan it is not a virus but a parasite carried by ticks. Because it is a parasite there are effective treatments when the infection is caught early. These parasites infect the red blood cells and cause flu like symptoms. Many people don’t develop any symptoms for the condition but individuals with a weak immune system and other underlying health issues could make babesiosis life-threatening for them.
A less common but still prevalent tick born disease is Anaplasmosis. This disease is caused by bacteria, making it unique from Powassan and Babesiosis. Also, carried by the deer tick it causes symptoms such as fever, headache, chills and muscle aches. These symptoms occur within 1-2 weeks of the infection but are easily treated by antibiotics.
The least common in New England, but still present is Tularemia. This disease is a bacterium like the Anaplasmosis and transmitted by ticks. This disease can be life threatening if not treated correctly. I can cause symptoms of fever, and ulcer where the tick bite is located, along with swollen lymph glands. Luckily this disease can be treated with antibiotics.
Ticks and mosquitoes remain a threat to your family with the wide range of diseases they carry. Make sure to protect your family this year with Mosquito Ranger services. Our organic-based mosquito spraying service creates a barrier around your property to protect you when your outside. Let us help you enjoy the summer again.
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Source: https://www.cdc.gov/
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