Summer Pests: Ticks, Mosquitoes, and When to Be Concerned

Summer Pests: Ticks, Mosquitoes, and When to Be Concerned

In Upstate New York, the warmer months bring a heightened concern for tick-borne diseases such as Lyme disease and anaplasmosis, and to a lesser extent, mosquito-borne diseases like West Nile virus.

Prevalence

According to the CDC, Lyme disease is highly prevalent in the Northeast U.S., including Upstate New York, with an estimated 476,000 diagnosed cases nationally each year. Anaplasmosis, transmitted by the same blacklegged tick that carries Lyme disease, also occurs during April to September and occasionally in October. West Nile virus cases occur sporadically in Upstate New York, with mosquito surveillance programs detecting virus activity.

Symptoms

• Lyme disease symptoms: fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, swollen lymph nodes, and a characteristic bull’s-eye rash in 70-80% of cases.
• Anaplasmosis symptoms: fever, chills, severe headache, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite.
• West Nile virus symptoms: most people are asymptomatic; some develop fever, headache, body aches, rash, or swollen lymph nodes; severe cases may cause neurological illness such as encephalitis or meningitis.

Prevention

For tick-borne diseases (Lyme and Anaplasmosis): use insect repellent containing DEET, wear long sleeves and pants in tick habitats, perform tick checks after outdoor activities, promptly remove ticks, and maintain yard landscaping to reduce tick habitat.

For mosquito-borne diseases (West Nile virus, EEE): reduce mosquito breeding sites by eliminating standing water, use mosquito repellents, wear protective clothing especially during dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active, and follow public health advisories.

Importance of Prompt Action

A tick must be attached for at least 36 hours to spread Lyme disease or anaplasmosis. If assistance is needed in removing a tick, a UR Medicine Urgent Care can be found near you. If you experience symptoms of any tick- or mosquito-borne diseases, seek medical attention promptly.

Ticks and mosquitoes can pose serious health risks due to diseases they carry, such as Lyme disease, West Nile, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis. While mild cases of West Nile might give rise to a fever, headache, or skin rash, and most people recover completely, extreme, rare cases might include convulsions, muscle weakness, paralysis, and even dangerous infection of the brain (meningitis/encephalitis).

When spending time outdoors, especially in areas with higher grass or leaf litter, it's important to check for ticks. A tick bite doesn't usually require an ED visit, and UR Medicine providers can treat tick bites during a Virtual Urgent Care Visit.

In conclusion, vigilance in personal protection and environmental control measures is essential to reduce risk. Tick-borne diseases are notably common and rising, while mosquito-borne illnesses occur but remain relatively less frequent in Upstate New York.

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