Lyme Disease: It Can Happen to You. Is Massachusetts Doing Enough to Protect Our Residents?

Here at Mosquito Squad of Central Mass, our job is to provide industry-leading protection and prevention for home properties and businesses. Part of prevention is education. In Central Massachusetts. The threat of Lyme disease is growing. Tick control and elimination are more important than ever!

Recently, we read some great articles with important information about Lyme disease and prevention in Central Massachusetts, and we wanted to make sure to share them with you.

Did you know that the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimate that there are more than 300,000 cases of Lyme disease in the United States each year? And many of those cases occur right here in Central Massachusetts.

A recent investigative report from The Huffington Post recognizes the urgency of city- and state-wide efforts to fight this disease and the ticks that carry it. According to the articles referenced below; disturbingly, despite at least 5,500 cases of Lyme each year in Massachusetts alone, state and local agencies have invested very few resources to fight it.

It’s clear that Lyme disease is spreading much faster than education or prevention in Massachusetts.\

And did you know that there are six or more different kinds of tick-related diseases in our state? And probably more to follow? Did you know that our severely snowy winter probably sheltered more ticks than it killed, making tick infestations far more likely? And yet legislation to raise money for tick prevention and education is not where it should be based on the numbers and public health threat. National grant money coming to Massachusetts is less than $50,000 a year. A recent study showed that ticks carrying a variety of diseases were found all over the state. But the study lasted only a year before its funding was canceled. Our communities continue to hunt for money and ways to spread the word and make residents safer according to this article from the Huffington Post.

The problem of fighting Lyme Disease and other tick-borne diseases will only get worse unless the state and municipalities raise awareness and raise money for prevention and education. Luckily, there is good news. In March of this year, the first-ever Central Massachusetts Lyme Conference took place in Worcester. According to the Worcester Telegram, public health nurses and directors, educators and specialists in tick-borne disease are well aware of the threat. They are speaking out and they are calling for change. Take a look at this article from the Worcester Telegram.

The founders of the Central Mass. Lyme Foundation, Ken and Michelle Miller, started the group to publicize and galvanize awareness. Their conference brought in national speakers who noted that ticks are notoriously hard to spot before they infect their hosts. They noted that Lyme disease is notoriously hard to diagnose and that Lyme and related diseases are severely under reported as a result. In fact, Lyme disease symptoms can mimic those of other disorders such as the common flue or even MS, ALS or Parkinson’s. Even experienced doctors find it hard to combat Lyme and other tick-borne diseases. Patients with severe cases can languish for months in pain, confusion and depression not knowing what is happening to them or how to stop it. The Foundation and its national connections are calling for more research, more news about research, and a concerted effort toward prevention.

Here at Mosquito Squad of Central Mass, we fully support our region’s fight against tick-borne disease. We provide industry-leading treatment for tick elimination, including property sprays. We also provide tick tubes, which contain material that rodents use for nests eliminating nymph ticks that visit those nests. We are dedicated to your safety and we welcome the chance to educate and protect.