Worst states for tick-borne diseases REVEALED in new map

Tick ​​season is approaching in the United States, and while the creatures live in every state, new research reveals where the situation is worse than others.

Experts analyzed all 50 states based on six categories, including infestation risk and environmental factors, and found that New York is at high risk for tick-borne illnesses this year.

New York has had nearly 16,800 reported cases of Lyme disease in 2022, more than double recent highs of around 8,000 cases.

Pennsylvania comes in second, followed by Texas, California and Wisconsin.

Tick-related infections are increasing in the United States.

The parasites carry the dreaded Lyme disease which infects around 476,000 people each year, which can cause rashes, flu-like symptoms, facial paralysis and memory problems.

Hindlegged ticks, more commonly known as deer ticks, are the most common blood-sucking parasites nationwide, alongside the Western hindlegged tick found along the coast of Peaceful.

Deer ticks carry Lyme disease, a bacterial infection that causes a bull’s-eye rash and flu-like symptoms.

It’s a common misconception that ticks only exist in forested or rural areas, said Dr. Megan Linske, a certified ecologist at the Center for Vector Biology and Zoonotic Diseases, who explained that they live in dead leaves and shrubs found in your garden.

Even in the concrete jungle, ticks can end up on your skin or clothes after a short walk in the local park.

New York was ranked among the worst because of its milder winters that help more ticks survive and reproduce, as well as mice and rats that are food sources.

Pennsylvania comes in second with 8,413 annual cases of Lyme disease, according to Pest Gnome, a home services marketplace that conducted the research.

Texas comes in third due to its infestation risk of 42, despite having a low number of just 23 infections.

To determine which states are the worst for tick-borne diseases, Pet Gnome looked at six categories: infestation risk, environmental factors, tick distribution, climate, agricultural factors and pest control.

The team gathered categorical data for each state and calculated its score out of 100 points to determine its ranking in each category.

The overall state ranking was then determined from the average score across all factors and categories.

Experts warn that if you find a tick on your body, it takes 24 to 48 hours for Lyme disease to enter your bloodstream.

However, you should still remove the tick immediately, because the Powasson virus, which is found in the tick’s mouthpiece, can be transferred into your body within 15 minutes.

If a tick bites you, you should remove it immediately using your fingernails or tweezers.

“It doesn’t matter if you leave the ‘head’ in,” said Sam Telford, professor of infectious diseases and global health at Tufts University.

“It’s like a splinter that will either go away on its own or be walled off like a foreign body.” Disinfect the bite site with an alcohol wipe,” he added.

It is important to monitor your body over the next three weeks for a rash or unexplained fever and seek medical attention if symptoms appear.

Ticks can transmit at least 17 diseases to humans, including Rocky Mountain spotted fever which causes severe headaches, high fever and tularemia – also known as rabbit fever which can cause skin ulcers and sores. swollen lymph nodes.

However, experts have indicated that 80 percent of cases are attributed to Lyme disease, which can be cured with antibiotics.

But if left untreated for months to a year after infection, it can cause prolonged symptoms, including joint swelling and arthritis, difficulty concentrating and nerve damage, skin, muscles and organs.

People should be warned that the length of “tick season” varies by state, so just because summer is over doesn’t mean you’re out of the woods.

Twelve states suffer from ticks year-round, including Texas, California and Washington, but “even in the winter, when it’s a little warmer, the ticks emerge and they’re hungry,” said Becky Smith, associate professor of epidemiology at university. of Illinois.

Ticks appear in areas that have a lot of deer, hence their name, because their blood is needed by the female tick to produce her eggs.

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A single deer can harbor up to 100 feeding ticks at any one time during the 16-week adult tick season, which runs from March to mid-May and mid-August to November, according to the department of New York State Health.

The female deer tick can lay 2,000 eggs each season, meaning one deer can produce more than three million baby ticks.

The best way to prevent tick bites is to check yourself regularly, even after going into the backyard, because most people pick them up around their property, Dr. Linske advised.

“They like to prioritize areas such as behind the knees, groin or armpits. However, I also commonly find them around the waistline or under the hair,” she said.

“By routinely checking for ticks, you are more likely to eliminate them before they have time to feed and transfer pathogens.”

People should also check their pets outdoors, take preventative measures to treat them with a tick collar or medication, and wear light-colored clothing while hiking to easily spot a tick on your outfit.

“And when you get home, take all your clothes and throw them in the dryer on high,” Dr. Linske said.

“This will dry out any hitchhikers you might have picked up.” »