Tickborne diseases are steadily on the rise in the United States, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), recently increasing their estimate by more than 44% to approximately 476,000 new cases of Lyme disease each year in the US.
To raise awareness of the serious health threats posed by ticks, the National Pest Management Association this week launched its newest project, TickTalk.org, during the inaugural Tick Awareness Week.
Cindy Mannes, senior vice president of public affairs at the NPMA, said: “This may be the most comprehensive resource on ticks and tickborne diseases available to the public, and we are so happy to provide consumers with this repository of relevant and much-needed information.
“With tickborne Lyme disease now diagnosed in all 50 states and more common than previously thought, we felt it imperative to create a one-stop-shop for all things tick-related, and TickTalk.org will now serve as that crucial resource to educate and inform the public on the health risks associated with ticks and the steps they can take to protect themselves and their families.”
In a recent survey among more than 800 US homeowners, commissioned by the NPMA and conducted online by The Harris Poll, 58% of Americans reported they have either seen a tick before or have had to remove one from themselves, someone else or a pet.
Ms Mannes added: “Despite the prevalence of ticks across the US, many people chalk them up to just a summertime pest and aren’t aware of the true threats they pose to our health. The goal of this project is to provide consumers with an up close and personal look at the different types of ticks, their habits and how to protect against them.”