Ticks: A National Concern with Expanding Reach

Ticks are becoming a widespread issue across different regions, irrespective of your location. Initially, Lyme disease, a tick-borne ailment discovered in the late 1970s and early 1980s, was confined to specific areas. The disease can result in a variety of symptoms such as rashes, fever, muscle and joint aches, neurological issues, and even facial paralysis. Out of almost 50 tick species in the United States, only two are responsible for transmitting Lyme disease.

Historically, Lyme disease cases primarily occurred in the Great Lakes region and the northeastern United States. However, factors such as changes in climate, animal movement, and alterations in land usage have contributed to the expansion of tick territory. This expansion raises questions about the potential increased risk of Lyme disease in new areas.

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You can tune in to Short Wave on platforms like Spotify and Apple Podcasts. This episode’s production credits go to Rachel Carlson, with editing by Rebecca Ramirez. Fact verification was conducted by Tyler Jones and the audio engineering by Annlie Huang.