Tick ​​Population Increases, US Warns of Lyme Disease Threat

Summer not only means exciting outings, but there is the risk of tick bites. Those going to the US are asked to be alert.

AP PHOTO/ANDRES KUDACKI)

The atmosphere of peak summer celebrations in Stockholm, Sweden, June 19 2020.

The northern hemisphere is entering summer. Apart from sunshine which means people will often do outdoor activities, summer is also accompanied by official government warnings regarding the risk of ticks (Ixodes scapularis) bites. One of the dangers of bites is the zoonotic Lyme disease.

The governments of United States and Canada issued an appeal to the public to be careful when doing outdoor activities. This appeal also applies to residents who have pets to regularly check their beloved "anabul".

Their cattle are expected to be free of ticks. Because ticks from animals can still bite humans. The way to keep pets free from ticks is to regularly bathe them and then follow up by giving them anti-lice medication or powder.

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"Make sure you apply anti-insect lotion to the entire surface of your skin before doing activities outside the home, including hiking or just relaxing in the park. "You can also wear long-sleeved clothes," said Head of Health Services for the Province of British Columbia, Canada, Fatemeh Sabet, quoted by the media Kelowna Now, Friday (17/5/2024).

"Don't neglect to check for insect bites when you get home," continued Sabet.

An undated photo provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows a tick.

If there is an insect bite mark, immediately clean it with water and soap or with 70% alcohol to prevent infection. Refrain from scratching the bite mark to avoid worsening irritation and causing abrasions that could result in wounds.

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In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are urging the public to be alert as ticks will become an epidemic. In fact, it is estimated to be even worse than the population of the insect in 2023.

Climate change

Ticks are endemic insects in North America. The eggs hatch in summer. According to entomologists, climate change is making winters warmer. As a result, tick breeding has increased so it is estimated that their population will continue to increase every year.

Susanna Visser, an expert from the CDC, explained that tick bites that are not treated immediately pose a risk of zoonosis infection or a disease that spreads from animals to humans called Lyme disease. This disease is not transmitted between humans.

The Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria contained in tick bites spreads to the human body and causes Lyme disease. The CDC estimates 500,000 cases of Lyme disease occur in the US each year.

The concerns of North American governments about ticks are similar to the concerns about the increased population of mosquitoes and the risk of malaria and dengue fever in Indonesia.

AFP PHOTO/NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP/ENRIQUE PENALVER

A 99-million-year-old fossil of dinosaur feathers that has turned into amber. A tick can also be seen in focus, which was also captured. The photo was published by Nature Communication on December 13, 2017.

According to various health papers, Lyme disease stems from untreated tick bites. Generally, if the irritation persists after the bite mark is cleaned, the doctor will prescribe antibiotics in the form of oral medication or ointment to quickly cure it.

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If this tick bite is left untreated, the bacteria will spread and within a few weeks can cause nerve damage. Some symptoms of Lyme disease include itching, pain, chronic fatigue, joint inflammation, and seizures.

Advanced Lyme disease can attack the heart and result in paralysis. Nevertheless, according to CDC reports, Lyme disease can be completely cured. The duration of the healing process and the required level of antibiotics depend on the severity of the disease.

AP/CDC/JAMES GATHANY

Canadian singer Justin Bieber announced on January 8 2020 that he had Lyme disease and was undergoing treatment.

"We should not underestimate tick bites. Lyme disease can become a slowly developing epidemic," said Rebecca Eisen, a CDC biologist who researches ticks.

Brit Adler, a rheumatic disease researcher at John Hopkins University, USA, as quoted by the daily USA Today, explained that among Lyme disease patients, as many as 10-20 percent cannot recover completely. Throughout life, Lyme disease can recur at any time, making the body ache and joints ache. Sufferers are dependent on medication forever. (AP)