Are Ticks Bad This Year 2023?
As we settle into the warmer months of the year, it’s essential to be aware of a growing concern: ticks. Yes, you read that right! Ticks might seem insignificant, but trust us when we say, they are a serious annoyance, not to mention a legitimate health concern. So, are ticks bad this year 2023? Spoiler alert: yes!
A Growing Concern
Ticks are notorious for ruining outdoor fun, spreading deadly diseases, and leaving frustrating itches behind. Each year, they become bolder and more resilient to treatments. This year promises to be no exception as reports are flooding in with cases of tick-borne illnesses at an all-time high. So, do you still want to think they’re harmless? Please, give it up.
Lyme Disease in the Forefront
Most people link ticks to only one dreaded disease: Lyme disease (LD). While LD takes the majority of the medical attention, other tick-born illnesses should not be shrugged off, such as the growing case of Rickettsia ricketsii, a type that can trigger Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, or Rickettsiiosis for short.
Other diseases these pesky Arachnids can bring to the dinner table? Anaplasma phagocytophilum (A. phagocytophilum-) (Anaplasmosis), Rickettsia akarui, and Q fever, to name but a few. We recommend keeping in mind the below list as you read to the next section:
· Fever
· Headache
· Body aches
But Wait, Which Ticks Are the Sneakiest?
This year’s tick crop (ixodes scapularis) has spread to record-breaking territories beyond the previous boundaries. Remember, Ixodes-based species are known vectors for Anaplasma, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Monocytosis syndrome. Those Iowa, Oregon, Wisconsin Wisconsin, Florida, California Californians (and other warmer regions should be vigilant because ticks are spreading fastest** on the eastern parts of those states!
New areas hit by ticks!
Subheading: Symptoms to look out for from tick-borne diseases
Flu-like symptoms
The trick is simple: watch the tick-like mannerisms: if that’s happening, then (it just might be… )
But what of the rare exceptions that present as follows?
- Rare exceptions where tick bites take the opposite form
[Insert your own chart-table or text]