Can Ticks and Fleas Give You Lyme Disease?
WouterThe first step in avoiding Lyme disease is to keep ticks and fleas away from yourself. The disease is transmitted by the bite of an infected tick. Ticks are very tiny and are hard to see. They feed on various host animals, including deer, birds, and rodents. Infected ticks carry the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.
The CDC tracks the incidence of Lyme disease across the United States. The incidence is defined as the number of new cases per 100,000 people reported each year. The CDC calculates the rates and totals each year by analyzing data collected by state and local health departments. These agencies report confirmed cases of Lyme disease to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System, which then records the data. Since the CDC began collecting data in 1991, Lyme disease has nearly doubled across the United States. Today, there are nearly 721 cases reported for every 100,000 people in the U.S.
Lyme disease is a potentially lethal infection, and it can lead to neurological dysfunction, extensive joint damage, and cardiac complications. It is mostly found in the northeastern United States, but has been reported in all 48 states. In some cases, antibiotics can help to treat the disease.
There are a variety of other diseases transmitted by ticks, including Lyme disease, anemia, and tapeworms. For more information, visit the American Lyme Disease Foundation.
