Why We are Hearing More About Lyme Disease during Summer

Lyme disease is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Borrelia, which is transmitted to the body when an insect, the tick, bites a person, causing disease in multiple organs. The disease is called Lyme Disease after the small town of Old Lyme on the Atlantic coast of Connecticut in the United States. Symptoms include fever, headache, a large bull's-eye-shaped skin rash, and later death from meningitis, myocarditis, and arthritis. Endemic primarily in the United States and Europe, early detection and proper treatment are critical for Lyme disease, and care should be taken to prevent insect bites. It is recommended to take precautions by wearing long-sleeved clothing, long pants, hats and insect repellent when outdoors in insect-rich areas. It is also important to remove the insect as soon as possible after being bitten, and to watch for early symptoms of Lyme disease, such as rash, fatigue, and muscle pain, and consult a healthcare professional.

Rising Lyme Disease Cases: A Seasonal Trend
Understanding the Lyme Disease-Carrying Tick
Changing Climate and Lyme Disease Spread
Lyme Disease Prevention: Tips for a Safe Season

Rising Lyme Disease Cases: A Seasonal Trend

There are several possible reasons why Lyme disease is more prevalent during the summer months, including increased insect activity and increased outdoor activity. The blacklegged tick, also known as the deer tick, is the primary vector of Lyme disease. These ticks are most active during the warmer months, typically from late spring to early fall. They thrive in environments with moderate humidity and temperature, making the summer months ideal for their activity. During this time, ticks are more likely to attach to and feed on hosts, including humans. During the warmer months, people tend to participate in outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, gardening, and outdoor sports. These activities often involve exposure to tick habitats, such as wooded areas and tall grass, where ticks are widespread, increasing the likelihood of tick bites.

Understanding the Lyme Disease-Carrying Tick

Understanding the ticks that transmit Lyme disease is important for preventing Lyme disease and taking appropriate precautions when spending time in tick-prone areas. The primary tick responsible for transmitting Lyme disease is the blacklegged tick, also known as the deer tick. Here is some key information about this tick.

*Appearance
Blacklegged ticks have a distinct appearance: nymphs and adult females are reddish-brown to black in color and relatively small; nymphs are about the size of a poppy seed, while adult females are slightly larger. Adult males are smaller and darker in color. Adults have eight legs, which distinguishes them from insects.

*Habitat
These ticks are typically found in wooded and grassy areas, especially in areas of high humidity. They are commonly found along the edges of forests, meadows, and wooded areas. Ticks often hide in fallen leaves, tall grass, and shrubs, waiting to attach to a host.

*Life cycle
Blacklegged ticks go through a four-stage life cycle: egg, larva, nymph, and adult. They typically feed on their hosts in each of the last three stages. Adult ticks are most active in the spring and early summer, when they transmit the most Lyme disease to humans.  

Changing Climate and Lyme Disease Spread

Climate change could have a significant impact on the spread and incidence of Lyme disease, primarily through effects on the geographic range of disease-carrying ticks and their behavior. Warmer temperatures and milder winters may extend the tick activity season. Ticks that are typically less active or dormant during the colder months may remain active for a longer period of time in areas with milder winters. Climate change may also alter the geographic distribution of ticks. As temperatures rise and habitats become more suitable for ticks, their range may expand into new areas. Warmer, wetter environments increase the survival rate of ticks, allowing them to thrive in environments where they were previously unable to survive. This expansion can increase tick populations and introduce Lyme disease into areas where it was previously uncommon or absent.

Climate change can affect the behavior and distribution of animal hosts that feed on ticks, such as rodents and deer. Changes in host behavior and migration patterns can affect tick populations and Lyme disease transmission. As temperatures rise, people may spend more time outdoors and engage in prolonged outdoor activities in tick-prone areas. This can increase the likelihood of tick exposure and disease transmission.

Lyme Disease Prevention: Tips for a Safe Season

To prevent Lyme disease, you should take precautions to reduce your risk of being bitten by a tick and immediately address any ticks that are attached to your skin. Here are some tips for preventing Lyme disease

*Wear protective clothing
It's best to avoid encountering wild ticks in the first place. Avoid direct grass-to-flesh contact when you're out in the park, hiking, or camping. If you're going for a walk in the park, wear long sleeves and long pants, and keep your clothes off the grass. If you're spending time in particularly wooded or grassy areas, wear a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, closed-toe shoes, and tuck your pants into your socks to further prevent ticks from crawling up your legs.

*Shower after being outdoors
It's a good idea to wash your hands after being outdoors, and wash the clothes you've been wearing. Take a shower as soon as possible after any tick-prone outdoor activity; this will help wash off any unattached ticks and give you a chance to thoroughly inspect for ticks.

*Be aware of tick-prone areas
Avoid walking on tall grass, bushes, and fallen leaves where ticks can hide.When hiking or walking in wooded areas, stay in the center of the trail to minimize tick exposure. In your yard, create a tick-free zone by mowing regularly, removing fallen leaves, and keeping playground equipment, decks, and patios away from the edges of wooded areas.

*Use tick repellent
Spraying yourself and your clothes with repellent before entering a tick-infested environment can be effective, but be careful with children and pets as it can affect their skin and respiratory system.

References:
1."Don't lie in the grass"...Tips for preventing tick-borne diseases in the fall.
https://www.korea.kr/news/visualNewsView.do?newsId=148892952
2.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention "Beware of Ticks in the Fall, Farming and Other Outdoor Activities"
https://news.kbs.co.kr/news/view.do?ncd=5274077&ref=A
3.How to prevent ticks and what to do about them!
https://milky-way0.tistory.com/10