A state in West Virginia is experiencing “Emplemic levels” of Lyme disease. A clear example of how global warming is turning some regions into breeding grounds for disease.
What’s going on?
Ohio County – with a population of about 40,000 – is experiencing an alarming number of Lyme disease cases. As of mid-September, there were probably close to 300 reported cases. Health authorities warn that the illness is now so widespread that cases are no longer investigated but merely recorded.
“It’s not if you’re going to get it, it’s when you’re going to get it,” Wheeler-Ohio County Health Administrator Howard Gamble told local news affiliate WTOV 9.
Lyme disease is a viral infection that is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected tick. It can cause fever, fatigue, joint pains, and a characteristic “bulls-eye” flare-up. If left untreated, lyme can lead to serious problems affecting the heart, joints, and nervous system.
Ohio County officials are calling for a decrease in unsustainable environmental conditions and human proximity to illegal settlements. And those things can be directly linked to rising global temperatures.
Spring and summer are peak tick seasons – but health officials warn cases are not expected to drop significantly in autumn.
Why is this rise in lyme noses important?
As Lyme disease cases increase, the rising number provides a warning that our warming planet is being remade into a breeding ground for disease.
The overheating of our planet – driven by the continued use of dirty energy – creates the perfect conditions for vector-borne diseases like Lyme to thrive. Warmer temperatures year-round mean that ticks – especially red-legged (or deer) ticks – are active for longer periods of time. This makes it more likely that a person will get the disease.
With warmer temperatures, ticks can also survive the winter farther north and at higher elevations. They can expand into regions that were too cold for their survival.
Rising temperatures and devastating deforestation are affecting the habitats of tick-carrying animals, such as deer and mice, forcing them closer to humans. Together, these changes create more opportunities for ticks to spread – and for people to come into contact with them.
What is being done about this increase in Lyme cases?
Ohio County officials told Wtov 9 that early detection and treatment are always critical to treating Lyme. Delays can lead to serious problems affecting the heart and nervous system.
To prevent contracting Lyme, it is important to avoid tick bites. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends staying on sunny trails when hiking and using insect repellent when outdoors. After coming to the house, take a shower and check for ticks. Treating pets for Lyme is also important for your own protection as well.
If you are bitten by a tick, the CDC recommends using tine-tices tweezers to grab the tick as close to the surface of the skin as possible. Pull down the insect to remove it – but don’t stop! This can break the mouths changed and leave them embedded, ripe for infection. After fully removing the tick, clean the site with rubbing alcohol, iodine, or soap and water.
In the following days, watch for a bull’s-eye rash and flu-like symptoms. In more severe cases, stiff neck, joint swelling, or facial swelling may occur. If there are signs of growth, contact your doctor immediately.
While short-term protection is important, scientists are working on tools and technologies for early detection of Lyme and other tick-borne pathogens.
There is also ongoing research around the world to develop a vaccine for Lyme disease. As that work continues, scientists are tracking climate and environmental changes to better understand and plan for the risks of tick-borne diseases.
Join our free newsletter for Good News and Helpful tipsand don’t miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
