Avoiding Ticks and Lyme Disease: UPMC Susquehanna Medical Director of Infectious Diseases Provides Safety Tips
Saturday, June 13th 2020, 12:28 AM EDT by
WILLIAMSPORT, P.A. (WENY) – As COVID-19 restrictions across the Twin Tiers continue to ease, many community members are getting back to enjoying the outdoors. However, the region will need to be aware of ticks and Lyme Disease as we move into prime tick season.
According to most recent statistics released by the CDC in 2018, Pennsylvania significantly led the country in confirmed Lyme Disease cases with 7,920. New York had the third most cases with 2,446. WENY News spoke with the Medical Director of Infectious Diseases at UPMC Susquehanna, Dr. Rutul Dalal, and he says this year, people may need to be extra cautious. (See link for article and video)
___________________
**Comment**
Ticks can absolutely walk around and navigate through wood chips. In fact, wood chips and leaf litter make wonderful humid areas to protect ticks. I’m not saying don’t use them, just be aware that they will not keep ticks out, but will rather serve as a barrier between riskier areas and non-risky areas but ALL areas are somewhat risky.
Ticks also love the Barberry plant and other invasives which are common in yards: https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/06/25/juvenile-tick-attachment-on-mice-significantly-greater-in-japanese-barberry-shrubs/
Interestingly, the very plant that ticks love to mate under, often serve as effective treatments: https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/05/05/good-news-for-bartonella-patients-identification-of-fda-approved-drugs-with-higher-activity-than-current-front-line-drugs/
Madison Area Lyme Support Group 