More Tick-Borne Infections Begin at Home
Excerpted from The Wall Street Journal ( Posted: 08/02/2010 )
While most people worry about tick bites after outdoor activities like camping, hiking and golf, the majority of bites happen close to home.
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases are investigating an alarming rise in several different types of tick-borne infections including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and ehrlichiosis. Not only are more diseases being spread by ticks, but more species of ticks are transmitting disease, including some, like brown dog ticks, not previously considered a danger to humans. The blood-sucking parasites are the leading carriers of disease in the U.S. and second only to mosquitoes worldwide.
The CDC is promoting “integrated tick management,” which includes the use of landscaping to discourage ticks and recommending people treat yards in affected areas with pesticides. Studies by Kirby Stafford, chief entomologist at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, show that 82% of ticks on a property are within three yards of the lawn perimeter, particularly along woodlands, stone walls, and ornamental plantings.
For the complete article: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703999304575399234058978228.html
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