Don't Let Ticks Suck the Fun Out of the Outdoors

On this week's episode of the pod, we tackle a topic that bugs so many... ticks!

Tis the season for ticks in certain parts of the US, so we had to talk about these little blood-sucking arthropods! We are “joined” by a special guest and the Executive Director of the American Lyme Disease Foundation: our very own Dr. Andrea Love! We kick things off with a summary of the diversity of tick species, especially those to be aware of in the US. We chat about different types of pathogens and diseases that may be spread by ticks. We discuss the ways the ticks feed and survive and their life cycle. We remind folks that not all ticks carry pathogens-- and we try to allay the concerns of those who avoid going outside out of fear of tick bites. Next, we focus on prevention and the multi-pronged approach that will significantly reduce your risk of tickborne illness! We discuss what to do if you are bitten by a tick (and what NOT to do) and debunk some common tick myths and misconceptions. We wrap things up with a discussion about tick testing (and whether it's necessary to send in ticks to labs for testing) and distinguish between diagnostic testing and surveillance. You do not want to miss this!

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