U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer of New York has introduced the Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Prevention, Education, and Research Act of 2015, intended to enhance the federal government’s ability to research, identify and treat the disease, as well as boost the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) nationwide ability to stop the spread of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses. (This Bill can be tracked here.)

The need for increased prevention, education and treatment and research is clear.

In August 2013, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)estimated that the number of Americans diagnosed with Lyme disease each year is around 300,000.

Lyme disease covers a wide geographic area in northern temperate regions of the world. In the United States, most infections occur in the Northeast, from Virginia to Maine; North-central states, mostly in Wisconsin and Minnesota, and the West Coast, especially northern California.

Most infections are caused by the bites of immature ticks called nymphs. Nymphs are tiny (less than 2 mm) that are difficult to see. They attach to any part of the body, but are often found in hard-to-see areas such as the groin, armpits, and scalp. If bitten by one of these ticks, Lyme disease will be transmitted in 36-48 hours unless the tick is discovered and removed.

Early Lyme disease usually presents with a characteristic “bull’s-eye” skin rash, along with fatigue, chills and fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, and swollen lymph nodes. The red circular rash that appears at the site of the tick bite, usually within 3 to 14 days after the bite.

However, some people never develop a bull’s-eye rash. Some only develop arthritis, and for others nervous system problems are the only symptom of Lyme disease. In those cases, many symptoms of Lyme disease are similar to other diseases, making diagnosis difficult. Furthermore, some signs and symptoms of Lyme disease may not appear until weeks or months after a tick bite, putting a patient at risk for a multitude of ailments, including arthritis and nervous system problems.

“…more must be done – and fast – to increase and improve prevention, treatment, education and treatment. That is why I am pushing legislation to combat the new and growing epidemic by improving and expanding the federal government’s to better develop diagnostic, prevention and treatment tools,” said Schumer. “We have to bring Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses out of the weeds to better educate people on how to keep their families’ safe.”

Lyme disease-carrying ticks are usually found in wooded areas, and are becoming an increasing problem in local yards.

Lawn Doctor’s Yard Armour® Tick Control service can help significantly reduce ticks before they become a danger to your family and pets. Our tick control program includes:

• Tick Prevention: We will first advise you on the best ways to keep ticks out of your yard.
• Tick Control: Yard Armour tick control provides a protective barrier around your property against ticks.
• Ongoing Tick Treatments: We will re-apply our treatments, as needed, to keep ticks out.

Your local Yard Armour technician knows the types of ticks common in your area, and can teach you the best ways to protect your yard from ticks.

In addition to our natural mosquito control services, Lawn Doctor also provides Yard Armour Natural Tick Control services for homeowners who want to enjoy a yard free of ticks with the use of all natural products.

 

Call 800-927-3276 or go to YardArmour.com for more information – and a free consultation – about our Yard Armour Tick  and Mosquito Control Services.

 

* Per Paul Mead, M.D., M.P.H, chief of epidemiology and surveillance for CDC’s Lyme disease program