Tick Alert

Tick Alert.  If you missed John Hayes’ article in the May 1 PPG, please be aware that ticks pose immense medical threats for those of us who get out in the woods and fields.  It’s not just Lyme disease, as bad as that can be. (PA leads the nation in Lyme cases and 50 % of black legged ticks carry Lyme spirocete). Ticks can carry and transmit the bacterium that causes Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and the virus that causes Powassan disease. Of concern to the carnivores in the group, a bite from the Lone Star tick can make you allergic to meat (who knew?). Some favorite spots are particularly hazardous: Lyme vector was present in 90% of the ticks sampled at Fisherman’s Paradise. Click Here for comments about ticks by John.