Bedford Joins Middlesex Tick Task Force

If you have a dog or cat, you know it's that time of year again when your pet is wont to come back in from roaming outside covered in ticks. 

The town of Bedford recently joined the Middlesex Tick Task Force, a coalition of towns from Middlesex County formed in 2012 to confront the regional public health issue of tick-borne diseases. 

The three tick-borne diseases that have become widespread throughout the area are  Lyme, Anaplasmosis (Erlichiosis) and Babesiosis, according to the Bedford Board of Health. 

The goals of the task force are to educated residents on the proper methods of preventing tick-borne illness, to increase awareness of tick-borne illness throughout Middlesex County and to promote inter-town collaboration on these diseases, according to the Board of Health. 

Member communities of the Tick Task Force include Bedford, Acton, Carlisle, Concord, Lexington, Lincoln, Waltham, Wayland and Weston.

Each participating community has agreed to focus on a four point message in educating residents on the dangers of tick-borne illnesses: 

1. Tick-borne diseases are now prevalent in our towns.
2. There are effective prevention measures individuals can take to protect themselves.
3. It's crucial to learn about these diseases including the life-cycle of the deer tick, how to do a "tick check" after being outside, how to safely remove an embedded tick and the signs and symptoms of the diseases. 
4. The importance of self-advocacy and early medical treatment for tick-borne diseases.

Contact the Bedford Board of Health at 781-275-6507 with any questions or visit the following websites for more information on tick-borne diseases.