New Reason To Fear Climate Change: Even More Lyme Disease

Here's a good reason to remember your insect repellant: Lyme disease cases increased 80 percent from 1993 to 2007 in the United States, and the number is still growing.   

According to a recent article in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, experts say the shift is largely due to climate change rather than population increases. Warming weather now allows ticks to breed more easily, with fewer dying off in the colder months. The shift in temperature has also allowed ticks to expand outside their normal range. While Lyme disease is still most common in the Northeast and Upper Midwest of the United States, new incidences are popping up outside these regions, especially in the northern regions of the United States and Canada.

Black ticks, also known as deer ticks, feed on humans and other animals. Infected ticks can pass on disease through their bite. In 2011, there were slightly more than 24,000 confirmed cases of Lyme disease.

The next time you head out to the woods, remember that bug repellant and tick checks are more important than ever. For more information about how to keep ticks away, check out these products and educate yourself on how to properly remove a tick.