How Do You Know if a Tick Is Dangerous?

How Do You Know if a Tick Is Dangerous?

Over the centuries, humans have done their very best to eradicate disease, and while we’ve made incredible progress over the past 100 years, we still have a lot to learn. Dangerous diseases exist around the globe, killing thousands every single day, and global warming appears to be exacerbating the issue. Diseasing-bearing insects are expanding their ranges beyond their traditional territories as warm weather moves northward, and such a trend should be watched carefully by those in the Northeast. Why? As you already know, ticks can carry a host of diseases, and each can have profound implications for those who contract these illnesses. Ticks are one of the disease-carrying creatures gaining footholds in the Northeast, and humans are suffering as a result. Tick-borne diseases should be taken very seriously, and they are an increasingly prevalent threat to your health and happiness. How can you tell if a tick is dangerous, though?

Which tick species earns the title of the “Deadliest tick”?

To our great misfortune, there are a few ticks that are very dangerous. What makes this question difficult, however, is that some ticks carry different diseases than others. Of particular concern to those enjoying the outdoors in the Northeast, however, is the deer tick. Also known as the blacklegged tick, this arachnid is the chief culprit of Lyme disease infections in North America. Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne illness in North America, and chronic cases have been known to cause symptoms of arthritis, memory loss, and other nervous system issues. Fortunately, this disease is NOT the deadliest. That title belongs to Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF). Caused by Rickettsia rickettsia bacteria, RMSF is the deadliest tick-borne disease in the world, and its death rate is as high as 30% in untreated patients. Fortunately, treatment brings this figure down to 4%, but around 72% of patients with RMSF need to be hospitalized. RMSF is most often transmitted by dog ticks, making them the deadliest ticks around.

How to defend yourself from the World’s deadliest tick

While the dog tick is the deadliest in the world, all common ticks can carry dangerous diseases. For comprehensive tick control, look no further than Mosquito Squad of Princeton. With occasional treatments of our barrier protection mist, your yard’s tick population will see a dramatic reduction in size. To date, Mosquito Squad has used barrier protection mist to defend over 300,000 families, and we are here to help defend against the ticks lurking in your yard.

Ticks are dangerous and should be treated as a threat. Give us a call at (609) 778-1797 for powerful tick defense!