New Book on Tick Control Provides Strategies for Managing Ticks that Transmit Lyme Disease.
A new book on tick control has just been published. Written by a Ph.D. biologist, the book describes measures rural and suburban residents can take to substantially reduce populations of Lyme disease transmitting ticks. This book's release coincides with the upcoming peak of the tick season and the publication of data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicating an upsurge in Lyme disease cases.
Bemidji, MN (PRWEB) May 24th, 2004 -- In many parts of the country, late May
into July is the “hot season” for Lyme disease. According to recently released
data from the Centers for Disease control, Lyme disease cases reached a new high
in the U.S in 2002 with over 23,000 cases (http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5317a4.htm). Many
of these Lyme disease victims are infected in their own yards, and the tick that
transmits Lyme disease has been spreading in many parts of the country.
Fortunately, the arsenal of tick-control measures has also expanded in recent
years, and these tick-thwarting strategies are detailed in the new book "Ticks
Off! Controlling Ticks That Transmit Lyme Disease on Your Property".
The
tick control measures described in “Ticks Off!” focus on two main themes;
landscape alterations and host control. Landscape alterations comprise a range
of measures to reduce moisture at the soil surface. Ticks absolutely need a
resting place with high humidity in order to survive. Removing these moist
environments can be an important step in putting a dent in tick populations.
The most important sources of a blood meal for Lyme disease-transmitting
ticks are white-tailed deer, deer mice, white-footed mice, and chipmunks.
Therefore, host control focuses on these animals. The goals of host control are
to either reduce the numbers of animals in your local environment, or to reduce
the number of ticks carried on these hosts. New methods of controlling ticks by
treating the hosts with tick-killing chemicals are now available, and can
significantly reduce tick populations in an environmentally sensitive way.
As Lyme disease has become more common in many parts
of the United States, more and more property owners are seriously exploring tick
control measures. “Ticks Off!” provides advice on integrated strategies for tick
control using both landscape alterations and control of ticks on hosts.
More information on tick control and the book “Ticks Off! Controlling
Ticks That Transmit Lyme Disease on Your Property” is available at www.tickbook.com. For more
information, contact the publisher at e-mail protected from spam bots.
About the Author:
Patrick Guilfoile, Ph.D., is a Professor of
Biology at Bemidji State University in northern Minnesota. From his first
backpacking trip in northern Wisconsin in the late 1970’s, when he spent several
sleepless nights removing ticks from his tent, sleeping bag, and person, he has
maintained an interest in ticks. In recent years he has published several
articles on the biology of blacklegged ticks in scientific journals including
The Journal of Vector Ecology, The Journal of Medical Entomology, and
Experimental and Applied Acarology.
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/5/prweb128580.htm