Got Ticks? A New Site Helps You Stay Safe
A URI study found that Johnston's tick population is on the rise.
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Johnston residents could be facing a higher-than-normal risk of Lyme disease this summer, as the town's tick population has increased dramatically.
That's the message from Dr. Thomas Mather, director of the URI Center for Vector-Borne Disease and TickEncounter Resource Center, who reported on Friday that Johnston saw a triple-digit percentage increase in ticks found at 18 survey sites.
"We've had perfect tick weather during May and June, which means that few ticks were killed off, and that's keeping the numbers high throughout the region for now," Mather said in a statement.
The TickEncounter website, www.tickencounter.org, provides a growing catalog of TickSmart tools, including an interactive tick identification chart, shower cards for prompting daily tick checks, tick encounter risk maps, and many other TickSmart strategies for protecting yourself, your pets and your yard from ticks.
Mary Quirk-Sasa
11:18 am on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Joe, thanks for posting this article. It is very important for people to be made aware of ticks and Lyme Disease. Both my son and I contracted it several years ago while doing yard work. We were treated with a round of antibiotics and are fine now, but undiagnosed / untreated Lyme Disease can be very delibilitating! It is vital to always check yourself and loved ones from head to toe after spending time outdoors. If you see a tick on your body or notice the characteristic "bulls-eye", see your doctor immediately!