What is Lyme Disease:
Lyme disease is an illness that is transferred by certain species of ticks caused by borrelia bacteria. It is the most common vector-borne (from the bite of an insect) disease in the United States according to the National Library of Medicine. These insects are seasonal and multiply as each warm month goes by. They strive in temperatures at or above 45 degrees Fahrenheit and at or greater than 82% humidity. There are different types of ticks that are typically found in certain areas of the country.
What are the effects:
Lyme disease is a bacterial illness that is sometimes called the great imitator because the symptoms can imitate multiple other issues. A tick bite typically looks like a tiny, itchy bump on the skin, much like a mosquito bite, but symptoms aren’t likely to show up right away. Lyme disease has three stages. The first stage is called the early localized disease where within 3-30 days symptoms like a rash, fatigue, fever, headache, muscle stiffness, joint pain, and swollen lymph nodes may appear. Stage two, called early disseminated disease, is when symptoms show up within 3-10 weeks of the bite. These symptoms may include stage one symptoms as well as rashes on other parts of the body neck pain/stiffness, muscle weakness on one or both sides of the face, irregular heartbeats, pain in hips, legs, back, hands, or feet, swelling of the eye or eyelid, pain in eye or vision loss. The third stage, late disseminated disease, typically sees symptoms between 2-12 months of the tick bite. The symptoms include all the previous symptoms as well as arthritis (particularly in the knees), and overall pain, swelling, and stiffness. Be aware of possible tick bites and see a doctor as soon as any symptoms start to show.
How does climate change affect Lyme Disease:
Studies have shown that climate change has contributed to the expanding range of ticks in a few ways. The first would be the warmer temperatures. Ticks require it to be over 45 degrees and around 80% humidity in order to survive. With the warmer temperatures expanding, ticks can now live in a larger area, like canada, which was once not survivable. Another would be the shortening winter months. Because warmer temperatures are making the winter months less harsh and for a shorter period of time, the duration that ticks can survive increases which also increases human risk for infection. More than 475,000 Americans are infected each year with Lyme disease and scientists confirm that the warmer weather isn’t helping.
Not all of the climate change impacts cause harm, droughts and lack of humidity is deadly for ticks. It’s more than just a preference but a necessity to have more than 80% humidity. A tick in the nymph stage (the stage just before the adult stage)
Modes of transmission:
Lyme disease cannot be spread by touching, kissing, or any sexual contact.
Lyme disease cannot be spread to an infant through breast milk.
You cannot get Lyme disease by eating game (deer meat, rabbit, etc.)
Lyme disease cannot be transmitted through air or water.
Mosquitos, lice, flies and fleas cannot transfer Lyme disease.
Lone star ticks, American dog ticks, and rocky mountain wood ticks cannot spread Lyme disease.
Facts
Blacklegged ticks that are found in the southeastern United States are almost never infected.
Female ticks are typically found and removed before infecting because of their bigger size.
If you remove a tick within the first 24 hours, you greatly reduce your chances of getting Lyme disease
Blacklegged ticks usually have a life cycle of 2-3 years
Safety measures
Avoid grassy, bushy, or wooded areas
Be alert to symptoms (fever, rash, headache, fatigue, etc.)
If you find a tick on you, put it in a plastic bag and freeze it to be tested if/when you start to show symptoms
Use insect repellent
Tuck your pants into your socks when walking through wooded areas
Always check yourself and pets for ticks and shower after you go outside
Wow, I never considered how climate change might create better conditions for ticks and therefore increase risks of lyme disease. I thought that this was a very interesting, informative, and well put together post. I appreciate that you included information about lyme disease and how it is and is not transmitted along with other facts.
ReplyDeleteAn easier, more prevalent spread of Lyme's Disease would be horrible. No thank you! I've heard similar diseases thrive in warmer temperatures so I think we can expect this in upcoming decades.
ReplyDeleteAs a frequent hiker, this topic gives me a lot of anxiety, but knowing the facts is very important. As humidity levels rise in climates where lyme disease is already common, I fear this could grow out of control. It is also important to give your dogs and cats preventive care as well in order to limit its severity. The fact that ticks are surviving in areas they never could before is very scary.
ReplyDeleteWho would’ve thought that lyme disease could be so connected to climate change. It’s honestly insane to me with how climate change really does affect anything and everything.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that ticks now thrive in Canada, where they previously couldn’t survive, is a clear example of how even small temperature changes can have enormous consequences for public health. This is very scary!
ReplyDeleteTick having a larger range is going to help spread lyme disease. It really shows how everything is going to be affected by climate change.
ReplyDeleteVery informative, I didn't know that ticks are now thriving due to the raise of humidity, it's crazy that everything is really connected.
ReplyDeleteClimate change just gets better and better! (sarcasm) it seems like there is no shortage for the negative sides of climate change. You have a lot of really good points here!
ReplyDeleteThank you for this post. It was super interesting and informative. I did not personally know all the dangers that ticks pose. It is crazy to me that climate change and Lyme disease could be connected.
ReplyDeleteThis is very helpful information! I always assumed ticks were found either on animals or in dry places. Saving a found tick is a new important fact to learn as well. It seems like the best way to combat Lyme disease is by awareness and prevention.
ReplyDeleteI already dont like bugs, but this is going to be a huge problem for people who dont like bugs, this could be the wake up call
ReplyDeleteThis post was extremely interesting and informative. I had no idea that climate change has resulted in the expansion of the hospitable regions for ticks to thrive. I really like that you included transmission modes and safety measures that can be taken.
ReplyDeleteClimate change is expanding the range and survival of ticks that transmit Lyme disease, increasing the risk of infection for humans as warmer temperatures and shorter winters allow these pests to thrive in previously inhospitable areas. While certain environmental conditions, such as droughts and low humidity, can reduce tick populations, the overall trend indicates that more than 475,000 Americans are infected each year, highlighting the urgent need for awareness and preventive measures.
ReplyDeleteAnother example of a disease that's made worse by climate change is Malaria. The parasite that causes it, Plasmodium falciparum, is spread through mosquito bites. Warmer winters mean mosquito larva don't die as much so there are more opportunities for it to further spread.
ReplyDeleteThis is an amazing post with lots of information and very detailed. It is scary to think how many more diseases will become more contagious and spread faster with the rising temperature and sea levels. With the glaciers melting, too, this will release all sorts of bacteria and molds that have been frozen for so long.
ReplyDeleteIt is truly mind blowing the pervasive extent that climate change affects the world. It is difficult to wrap my head around precisely how much everything is affected. It is like the reality of the butterfly effect but with ticks, and disease, and carbon.
ReplyDeletei HATTTTEEEE ticks with a passion so to know that they are going to be more common with climate change is a terrifying thought however this is very important to know and understand so that safety steps can be made
ReplyDeleteWow! That last graphic is very shocking. Do you think the increase in suitable conditions is the main reason for this increase or has climate change altered ticks ecosystems such as a decrease in natural predators?
ReplyDeleteI learned alot from this post. I dislike ticks even more
ReplyDeleteI have a terrible fear of ticks for this exact reason, but some how I never connected the increase in ticks to the worsening climate crisis. It is concerning to see the significant increase in range where ticks are able to survive.
ReplyDeleteThis is SO crazy! Both my brother's dog and my dad got Lyme disease this year. We had never experienced it on our property before and this is shocking to me. I would've never made that connection.
ReplyDeleteIt's truly scary that the effects of these ticks and other insects to spread such harmful diseases that are almost unavoidable. It is even more frightening that we are only creating an environment where ticks and the spread of these diseases can spread all the more easily.
ReplyDeleteBrynn, your post hits close to home! I had terrible knee issues last year - I even came to class on crutches. At first the doctors thought it was arthritis, and that may have been part of it, but then I was tested for Lyme disease and low and behold, once I took antibiotics (for a month!) the knee got a lot better. Lyme is kind of a crazy infection and I don't want to get it again! And hope it is gone for good from my system.
ReplyDeleteLyme disease is just nuts. Sadly, this isn't the first time I've heard of tick spread and doesn't come as a surprise to me. I think this will be the general trend for many insect-borne diseases, like malaria, EEE, Zika, and many other diseases transmitted by bug bites. Granted, I don't think we should lock ourselves indoors entirely.
ReplyDeleteTo combat ticks, wear long socks, broad-brimmed hats, and longer pants when hiking or walking through woods and grassy areas, and check yourselves afterward. Ticks suck but we can make it harder for them!