A researcher who aided in mapping the risk of Lyme disease in a national study released this week, said New Jersey was “loaded.” “Lots of ticks, lots of deer and lots of people,” said Durland Fish, a principal investigator for the study, which was funded by the Center for Disease Control.
Fish, a professor of Epidemiology at Yale School of Public Health, said 80 tick hunters visited more than 300 sites — mostly public and wooded areas — across the country looking for black-legged deer ticks, known as Ixodes scapularis. They found the Northeast and upper Midwest are hardest hit by the ticks, which carry Lyme disease.
According to the state Department of Health, there were 3,320 cases of Lyme disease in New Jersey in 2010, said spokesman Daniel Emmer.
The results were published in the monthly journal of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Lyme disease symptoms include a rash, headaches and fever to arthritis, and Bell’s palsy, according to the society.
Fish said the map also revealed ticks are “expanding their range,” migrating into areas such as Virginia.
“It has to do with deer populations,” adding that populations could spread further into Pennsylvania and the Midwest. “They travel with them.”. More in Star Ledger.
Seriously, I found a tick on my son not too long ago. Thank G-d it didn’t dig in yet. They’ve got to be removed properly or else the one removing it can be exposed to the danger as well. On a lighter note, New Jersey makes it into the Journal of The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene? Must be Global Warming! So the ticks are headed toward Virginia, maybe headed toward the White House? Time to call out the drones.
they are also a big kashrus concern as they are found in fish, grapes, and raisins.
Ticks are mostly found by trees ie; forests. and it is very hard to kill them
Not to worry the Planning Board should have enough construction approved that there will be no woods left for the ticks to live in.
To the previous commenter,just FYI (although I know this off topic) the Planning Board has no legal authority to stop someone from constructing on his/ her property providing they are adhering to zoning/ and or any variance granted by the zoning board, unless there are legitimate concerns on traffic impact, safety,etc. So they’re the wrong ones to blame. (I am not on the planning board, nor affiliated with the Township..just setting the record straight.
#4 that was GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
#3- ticks are carried by birds, squirrels, opossum, racoons, etc. so ticks are everywhere birds and animals are. that means your backyard too.
Hey actually: read my comment again it said NOTHING about blame!
Controlled burning can help keep their numbers down. They thrive in many places now because controlled burning is no longer permissible by law.
#4- great post!
Hey actually… to a point you are right, BUT they are supposed to make sure your building plans FIT the zone you are building in! When they give variances away like door prizes, that is when the building goes wrong. Then, when you give one variance to one builder, the next builder starts with the assumption he will get the same variance and start asking for more variances, and it has snow balled since.