From The Healdsburg Tribune
May 11, 2018
According to the Centers for Disease Control, Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States. Officials at the Marin/Sonoma Mosquito and Vector Control District are reminding residents that prevention before, during and after being in tick habitat is key when it comes to protection against ticks and tick-borne diseases.
“The poppy seed-sized nymphs are active during this time of year and about 4 percent of them harbor the bacteria that can cause Lyme disease,” said Kelly Liebman, Scientific Programs Manager for the Marin/Sonoma Mosquito and Vector Control District. “It is important to prevent bites and always check yourself and your pets for ticks after being outdoors.”
District staff conduct routine tick surveillance at various parks and public lands throughout Marin and Sonoma counties. Once collected, the ticks are tested for Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium that causes Lyme disease. The average infection rate among adult western black-legged ticks is between 2.3 and 3 percent in any given year.