Unfortunately next time up bring your tick spray and pay attention. From an April 2015 article in the Post Gazette.
"Every county in Pennsylvania now has blacklegged (deer) ticks inside its borders that carry the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, prompting warnings to avoid tick exposure and be alert to symptoms.
The small ticks that carry the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria now are embedded in Western Pennsylvania, which was the last holdout, states a study published last week in the Journal of Medical Entomology and prepared by the state Department of Environmental Resources’ Vector Management Program and Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Statewide cases totaled 5,758 in 2013, with 1,122 cases in the southwest. That ranks second only to the southeast with 1,391 cases. The largest concentration of cases over the past five years has existed in an area including Armstrong, Butler, Clarion, Jefferson, Elk, Cameron and Clearfield counties. Allegheny County reported four cases or fewer in 2013 and only 10 cases in 2012.
[/b]For the past five years, Pennsylvania has reported the most Lyme disease cases nationwide.[b]The infection can cause fever, fatigue, headache, muscle aches and joint pain. The study says blacklegged ticks also can transmit the parasite causing Babesiosis, which can cause anemia and pote8ntially be fatal. Anaplasmosis, another blacklegged-tick-borne infection, causes fever, headache, chills and muscle aches, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states.
To avoid such infections, Acting State Physician General Rachel Levine advises people to wear protective clothing outdoors, use insect repellents and do a full-body check after being outside.
Correction, posted April 29, 2015. According to the Pennsylvania-based study, Allegheny County reported four or fewer cases of Lyme disease in 2013. An earlier version contained an incorrect number."
Last edited by battue; 10/20/15.
