Yes, blacklegged ticks (aka deer ticks) are the primary carrier of Lyme disease in the northeastern United States.
Finding a tick on your skin, or worse, your child or pet, triggers a very specific kind of dread. It’s revolting on its own, but there is then the uncertainty. Was it attached for a long time, and is this the species that carries Lyme disease? Do you wait it out or go talk to a doctor?
The bacterium that causes Lyme disease is Borrelia burgdorferi, and it lives in the gut of infected blacklegged ticks. Not every deer tick carries it, and infection rates vary by region and year. But in much of Massachusetts, Worcester County and the areas around Leominster included, about 20–30% of adult blacklegged ticks test positive.
Nymphs, which are the juvenile stage active from late spring to midsummer, come with similar infection rates. But practically, they are even more dangerous because they are about the size of a poppy seed and far easier to miss during a tick check.
Transmission of disease generally requires ticks to be attached for 36–48 hours. This is why tick checks are so important, and why removing ticks quickly can dramatically cut down on your personal risk.
Lyme disease is one of the biggest problems blacklegged ticks can cause, but it’s certainly not the only one. From tick bites, you can also catch anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and in rare cases Powassan virus. All of these can cause serious health issues.
The characteristic bullseye rash appears in many Lyme cases but not all. Some people develop fever, fatigue, and joint pain without ever seeing the rash. When in doubt, go to a doctor or urgent care center. If you are unlucky enough to show signs of Lyme disease, the good news is that early treatment with antibiotics is highly effective.
Reducing the number of ticks in the places where you and your family spend time is one of the most direct ways to lower the risk of falling ill from tick-borne disease. Mosquito Squad of Leominster provides tick control treatments that target the shaded, leafy, and brushy areas of your yard where blacklegged ticks wait for a host—the same zones where exposure most often happens.
