As summer temperatures rise, residents of New Jersey and other parts of the Northeast will head outside to enjoy the warm weather with family and friends. Unfortunately, the summer’s arrival means that tick-borne disease season is also here.

Lyme disease is one of the most serious tick-borne illnesses and typically arises in the Northeast, mid-Atlantic region. Named after an outbreak in Lyme, Conn., in the 1970s, Lyme disease is spread by the blacklegged tick. It is the most common tick-borne disease in America, and its prevalence is growing. The current number of cases Tick per year, which is around 300,000, has tripled in the past 20 years. In fact, a recent article published on Time Magazine says that Lyme disease is becoming more prevalent in states outside of the Northeast. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that climate change is aiding in the spread of this potentially fatal disease. Ticks thrive in densely forested areas and their populations are usually kept in balance by predatory white mice who feed on them. Recent increased deforestation efforts across the country have dramatically decreased the white mice population; therefore helping tick infestations spread across the county, virtually unhindered and unchecked. Continue reading →