PRESS RELEASE: May is Lyme Awareness Month--Watch out for those picnic tables

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One research study at a California park found many nymphal ticks on the underside of wooden picnic tables.

A tiny insect that many people tend to overlook can cause a world of hurt, according to the California Lyme Disease Asssociation (CALDA). The western black-legged tick is found throughout California and often carries Lyme disease.

The California Legislature has proclaimed May as Lyme Disease Awareness Month. The measure, by Assemblyman Wes Chesbro (D-Arcata), calls Lyme disease “an often-misunderstood illness which can cause serious health problems if not caught early and treated properly.”

Lyme disease is a bacterial illness transmitted by a tick bite. According to Phyllis Mervine, president of the California Lyme Disease Association, the best strategy regarding Lyme disease is to avoid getting it in the first place.

"People need to check for ticks after spending time outdoors,'' she says. "Nymphal ticks, the immature ones, can be hard to spot because they are as small as poppy seeds. They are often in leaf litter or at the base of trees. One study at a California park found many nymphs on the underside of wooden picnic tables.”

Adult ticks are often found on the tips of grasses and shrubs. Both immature and adult ticks can transmit the illness.

Small children can be particularly vulnerable to the devastating effects of Lyme disease, Mervine says. For one thing, they are low to the ground where the ticks tend to be. Also they may pull a tick off their body without telling anyone. “Parents need to educate themselves about ticks and check their children carefully whenever they’ve been outdoors.”

Lyme disease is a complex, multisystem illness. Early signs of infection may include rash and flu-like symptoms, including fever, muscle aches, headaches, and fatigue. As it progresses, Lyme disease can invade multiple organs of the body, including the brain and nervous system. Patients can become increasingly disabled over time, suffering chronic pain, neurological impairment, and a host of other serious symptoms.

“Many people mistakenly believe that Lyme disease isn’t a problem in California,” Mervine says. “Unfortunately, Lyme-carrying ticks have been found throughout the state, in urban parks and gardens as well as more rural areas. People need to learn how to protect themselves and their children.”

The California Lyme Disease Association (CALDA) maintains an educational website at www.lymedisease.org. It offers information about how to protect yourself and your family from ticks, along with information about Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses.

CALDA is a non-profit corporation acting as the central voice for all tick-borne disease issues in California and a supporting voice for national issues. Through research, advocacy, and education of the public and healthcare professionals, CALDA seeks to prevent tick-borne diseases, encourage early diagnosis, and improve the quality of healthcare provided to people with tick-borne diseases.