Lyme Disease Awareness Month (2015)

May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month.  As a pest management professional, I can think of few things more important than awareness and prevention of this unfortunate disease that is spread to humans through the bite of an infected tick.

Every year, 30,000 cases of Lyme Disease are reported to the Center for Disease Control.  Interestingly, the CDC does not believe that is an accurate count and rely instead on a complementary study which suggests that more than 300,000 people contract Lyme Disease each year.  A quarter of Lyme Disease patients are under the age of 18.

Despite the unpleasantness of various tick-borne illnesses, a recent study revealed that more than 51% of people reportedly do nothing to prevent tick bites.  Approximately 21% of people reported using insect repellants.  Another misguided 15.7% reported showering to prevent tick bites.  Unfortunately, ticks are not repelled by clean and won’t wash away with soap.  

Prevention of tick-borne illnesses is accomplished in a variety of ways including the use of effective insect repellants and careful self-examination after time outdoors. 

We also recommend that our customers take advantage of our seasonal tick/mosquito program to reduce the population of these harmful pests.   In the Mid-Atlantic, this service is performed monthly when these pests are most active.  Unlike some mosquito control programs on the market, Home Paramount’s program integrates tick control which creates value for our customers and provides for greater peace of mind.

Awareness of Lyme Disease and its origins is important.  Fortunately, there is a wealth of information online for reference, including www.cdc.gov/lyme and www.umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/condition/lyme-disease.