Why do people need to get educated about ticks and Lyme disease?
More than 220,000 Americans develop Lyme disease annually – and Dutchess typically has among the highest incidences of the disease each year. In fact, over the last 15 years, more than 12,500 people have been infected in Dutchess alone. Since the illness was discovered in 1975, Lyme disease has confounded the medical community and has posed a health risk to those who are active outdoors. That is particularly true in summer months. Without question, more research is needed to halt the disease and to treat those infected. And residents, too, need to get educated. County officials note, for example, that many residents are not aware that ticks can carry more than just Lyme disease. The Powassan virus, a rare tick-borne disease, has been confirmed in the county this year for the first time since 1978, the county reports. Sources: http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.
