Lyme Disease Cases Peak in July - Get Ticks Under Control to Reduce Risk of Contracting Lyme Disease
More cases of Lyme disease are diagnosed in July than any other month. July is therefore an appropriate time for homeowners to take steps to control ticks on their property.
(PRWEB) July 5, 2005 -- Currently, over 20,000 cases of Lyme disease are
being diagnosed per year in the United States, and more Lyme disease cases are
diagnosed in July than any other month. July is therefore a month when
homeowners and property managers should make sure they are taking appropriate
steps to reduce populations of ticks that transmit Lyme disease on their
property. Most people are infected with Lyme disease in their own backyards, so
keeping the tiny blacklegged ticks in check on your own property is an important
step in reducing the risk of contracting Lyme disease.
Methods of tick
control fall primarily into two categories: creating an inhospitable environment
for ticks and managing the hosts that ticks feed on.
A range of measures
can make your property unwelcoming for ticks including clearing away brush,
mowing areas frequented by people and pets, and placing a gravel border between
woods and lawns. Host management falls into two categories- controlling host
populations, and treating hosts with insecticides. Host control can take several
forms including fencing to exclude deer, and reducing food sources for mice and
other small rodents. New methods for treating hosts are now available from
licensed pesticide applicators in many states, and these methods have been
reported to reduce tick populations by over 90%.
More information about
tick control is available in a book entitled “Ticks Off! Controlling Ticks That
Transmit Lyme Disease” by Patrick Guilfoile, Ph.D. More information is available
on the web at www.tickbook.com, or from the publisher, ForSte Press, Inc.
P.O. Box 1537, Bemidji, MN 56619; (218) 243-4016.
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/7/prweb258197.htm