Lyme Disease Carrying Ticks Abundant In NorCal, Thanks To A Wet Spring

SAN FRANCISCO — With spring well underway and summer on the horizon, tick activity is ramping up around Northern California, and experts warn the parasitic bloodsuckers may stick around longer than usual this year.

The spider-like arachnids latch onto people and animals to feed on their blood, and some can carry and transmit the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. The infection, which can cause joint pain, fatigue, and rashes, can also cause chronic symptoms with no cure. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates nearly a half-million Americans are diagnosed with the disease each year.

The Bay Area Lyme Foundation told SFGATE that an unusually wet spring could make ticks more prevalent, as they thrive in moisture, and prolong a tick season that normally ends in July, through August or even into September.

According to SFGATE, researchers at UC Davis and Stanford have identified several hotspots where ticks tend to be more abundant, including:

• Wooded areas along the coastlines
• China Camp State Park in San Rafael
• Open areas in Los Altos Hills
• Tilden Regional Park in Orinda

In a seasonal advisory earlier this month, the Humboldt County Department of Health & Human Services said just one variety of tick found locally can cause Lyme disease: the Western blacklegged tick. According to the California Department of Public Health, an infected Western blacklegged tick must be attached for at least 24 hours to transmit the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.

They can also carry other bacterial diseases, including Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, and Anaplasmosis.

Tick experts have several recommendations to reduce the risk of tick-borne diseases, including a few simple steps to keep people and pets safe outdoors.

"Wearing long sleeves and pants alongside appropriate use of EPA registered insect repellents such as DEET and oil of lemon eucalyptus, can act as a barrier against ticks, while light-colored clothing allows for easier spotting of ticks that may be crawling on you," said Ben Dolf, Supervising Environmental Health Specialist for Humboldt County. "Pets are also susceptible to Lyme disease and can carry ticks into the home. Pet owners should talk to their veterinarians about available tick preventatives and check their pets for ticks after outdoor activities."

• Learn more about local ticks from Marin/Sonoma Mosquito and Vector Control.

Health officials recommend anyone who finds a tick attached to themselves or a pet use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp close to the skin's surface and pull upward with steady pressure, making sure to remove the entire tick, including the head. The area should be disinfected with rubbing alcohol, iodine scrub, or soap and water.

The Bay Area Lyme Foundation recommends getting ticks tested in certain scenarios and urges contacting a doctor immediately if potential Lyme disease symptoms emerge.

>> Read about ways to prevent tick-borne diseases from the California Department of Public Health.