Tick population on the rise in Butte County

From ChicoER
December 25, 2017

With the arrival of cool and wet weather, ticks that may be carrying Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases are becoming more active in Butte County.

Increased populations of the Western black-legged tick (Ixodes pacificus), sometimes referred to as the deer tick, have been detected along trails in Chico’s Bidwell Park and in the Lake Oroville Recreation Area by the Butte County Mosquito and Vector Control District.

Ticks attach to people and animals and feed on their blood over several days. If the tick is infected with the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, it can pass it on to its host.

Other tick-borne diseases include Rocky Mountain spotted fever, anaplasmosis, erlichiosis and babesiosis.

Most tick-borne diseases begin with flu-like symptoms that usually develop 2 to 14 days after being bitten. Some people with Lyme disease or Rocky Mountain spotted fever develop a rash. If someone becomes ill with flu-like symptoms after spending time in tick areas or being bitten by a tick, they should see their doctor right away.

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