Individuals visiting White Woods in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, are warned to exercise caution because the place is plagued with black-legged ticks that could cause Lyme disease. The high density of ticks is expected to last beyond summer.
Two people running
Black-Legged Ticks Causing Lyme Disease at Their Highest Volume at White Woods
An Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) professor said that the Lyme disease-causing black-legged ticks are at their highest density at Whites Woods in White Township. Dr. Tom Simmons, a biology professor at IUP, said that the high density of ticks would go for the long term, not only for the summer.
The information Simmons released was based on laboratory tests of ticks he recently collected in Whites Woods, Yellow Creek State Park, and Blue Spruce County Park. He discussed the figures with urgency because he said the peak activity for nymphs, also known as deer ticks, happens between June and July.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that most Lyme disease cases were caused by the tiny bites of nymphal ticks measuring less than 2 mm.
Simmons' data convey that outdoor enthusiasts can continue visiting Whites Woods. However, they should take the disease more seriously and take precautions to prevent tick bites.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Agency authorized Simmon's study.
Pennsylvania Ticks Increase
Based on the numbers from the data, there was an increase in the number of ticks from late 2020 to 2021. The data also showed an increase in the percentage of ticks that can transmit Lyme disease.
Simmons conducted the fieldwork a year ago. He discovered 155 nymphal mites in the Old Grove region of Whites Woods. There were 36% of nymphal mites positive for Lyme disease. The data showed that from May to June, the nymphs were at 8.8/100 m2, while the infected nymphs were at 3.1/100 m2.
The research also studies babesiosis and anaplasmosis. He said that when ticks become established in the region, the density rises to levels similar to the currently recorded data in Whites Woods.
He noted that the percentage of ticks with Lyme disease increases before plateauing.
"It just seems like the numbers go up and the percentage of infected ticks goes up and then it just hits a point and stays at that level. And we are at this level," Simmons said.
He added that ticks don't typically sit outdoors on dry, sun-exposed walkways. Instead, they are more common on vegetation's understory. They prefer to stay in lower and shaded locations.
Simmons estimates 10 ticks per 10 square meters, meaning that a hiker who walks into a strip of 18 inches wide, roughly the length of two football fields, could bring 10 ticks on his boots.
ALSO READ: Parents Raise Concerns About Lyme Disease After Ticks Were Spotted in a Local Park in Lancashire
Lyme Disease Cases in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is one of the top five states for Lyme disease. It is one of the most common reportable diseases in the state.
In 2017, there were 11,900 recorded cases which dropped to 10,208 cases in 2018. However, CDC believes that Pennsylvania may have almost 100,000 cases per year.
Many people recover from Lyme disease by taking antibiotics. Some patients get a prescription of 10 days, while some maintain the medication for months. The treatment depends on the disease symptoms. Currently, there is no human vaccine for Lyme disease.
RELATED ARTICLE: Lyme-Carrying Ticks in Large Quantities Discovered on California Beaches
Check out more news and information on Medicine and Health in Science Times.
