Hot weather is indeed upon us. It's the season for brush clearing, outdoor activities and also for potential exposure to Lyme Disease.Fortunately, Lyme Disease is not nearly as common in California as it is in New England and the upper Midwest. Also, even within California it is not very common in El Dorado county. In fact, it only has occurred in 0.9 in 100,000 people in El Dorado county from 2002-2011.
While there are plenty of deer and plenty of deer ticks here, it seems that the Western Fence Lizard helps to keep Lyme Disease itself from being as common as it otherwise could be. Ticks bite these lizards, but there seems to be something in the lizards' bloodstream that then goes on to kill of the Lyme Disease-causing bacteria in both the lizard and in the tick!
Within El Dorado County, the areas where it is most commonly seen is above Ice House and around Folsom Lake and El Dorado Hills.
It is worth bearing in mind that most Lyme Disease exposures occur in March and April, mainly because that is when the nymph or immature ticks are born. They are the main vector of Lyme Disease in humans. The nymph is on the right in the photograph: note the significant size difference compared to the adult on the left!
The best ways to avoid tick bites are:
- Wear shoes, socks, and long pants especially when you are hiking or brush-clearing.
- Wear light colored clothing: it makes ticks easier to see.
- Don't allow leaf litter to accumulate in "border zone" areas of trees near your home: ticks like to live and breed there.
Once you have removed the tick, wash your hands and the bite site with soap and water and apply an antiseptic to the bite site.
Please see us if:
- You can't remove the tick, or its head is still embedded.
- You develop a flu-like illness or rash within a month or so of a bite.
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