Disease-carrying ticks are a growing problem in rural America, and experts say climate change is a big reason why.
As the climate warms, ticks can live longer each year and reproduce more. That makes for larger tick populations and expanding tick habitats, Liz Carey reports for The Daily Yonder.
Moreover, the number of tick species that can cause medical problems is increasing, according to Ohio State University extension agent Tim McDermott. "The number of species that are medically important is expanding too, he said. About 20 years ago, he said, there was only one tick species, the deer tick, in Ohio that could potentially make you sick," Carey reports. Now there are five, and they carry everything from Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever to the increasingly-common Powassan virus.
Not only are there more ticks in more places and more kinds of tick that can harm people, but a larger percentage of ticks are infected with diseases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "McDermott said while the risk of tick bites is rising, and the number of ticks carrying diseases is high, there are ways to protect yourself," Carey reports. "One way is properly managing tick habitats, through mowing and keeping your yard clear of brush, tall weeds, and grass. Another is to wear appropriate clothing – light-colored, long-sleeved shirts and long pants tucked into socks or boots – and to apply tick repellent on skin, clothing, and footwear."
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