Do Bed Bugs Cause Lyme Disease?
WouterThere has been an alarming rise in Lyme disease cases in the United States. This outbreak is being attributed to the rise of black-legged ticks, which carry the disease. Lyme disease is also a growing concern in areas plagued by mosquitoes carrying the West Nile virus.
Bedbugs are a different species of pest than ticks. Ticks are obligate blood-sucking insects. They are rarely found in homes, and only a few species reproduce indoors. Bedbugs, on the other hand, reproduce rapidly in living spaces and bedrooms.
The first step to eliminating bedbugs is to thoroughly clean your home. Wash your bedding and clothing. This will help eliminate bed bugs for good. You should also store items that can’t be washed in plastic containers. This is because bedbugs cannot survive without food. If you are certain that you have bedbugs, make sure you take appropriate measures to eradicate them. However, it is not always possible to completely eliminate them.
There are some laws that help people in these cases. One state in particular, Virginia, has passed a law that requires health care providers to tell patients when a test comes back false or positive. Another law, in Maine, requires health care providers to provide patients with information about various treatment options for Lyme disease. Another state, Connecticut, requires insurers to cover the treatment. And New York is also considering legislation that would require insurers to cover it.
