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Lyme Disease

All articles tagged with #lyme disease

Federal Lyme plan risks cementing a false diagnosis, warns op-ed
health-policy10 days ago

Federal Lyme plan risks cementing a false diagnosis, warns op-ed

An op-ed argues the new federal Lyme plan could validate misdiagnoses by steering patients to ILADS clinicians and framing Lyme as an infection-associated chronic illness, despite evidence that many positive tests (like isolated IgM or non-specific Western blots) are false and that genuine Lyme disease is geographically concentrated; the piece warns that long antibiotic courses can harm patients and calls for careful, evidence-based diagnosis instead of expanding a system built around a disputed syndrome.

Debunking TikTok tick hacks: safe removal tips that actually work
health11 days ago

Debunking TikTok tick hacks: safe removal tips that actually work

Viral tick-removal hacks on TikTok (such as Vaseline, nail polish, or lighting a match) can increase infection risk. Health experts advise removing ticks with fine-tipped tweezers placed as close to the skin as possible, pulling straight out without twisting, disposing of the tick, cleaning the bite area, and monitoring for 30 days for rashes or fever. Prevention includes EPA-registered repellents and permethrin-treated clothing; seek medical care if a bull’s-eye rash or symptoms develop.

Vermont confronts rising Lyme disease with expanded tick surveillance
health15 days ago

Vermont confronts rising Lyme disease with expanded tick surveillance

Vermont is seeing a rising Lyme disease risk as ticks expand northward and stay active longer, influenced by climate change and increased outdoor recreation. State surveillance has collected about 25,000 ticks over a decade, with 51% of tested deer ticks positive for Lyme from 2020–2024; in 2025 Vermont reported 2,246 Lyme cases, the second-highest rate in the U.S. Prevention tips include permethrin-treated clothing, checking and showering after outdoor time, and consulting a clinician about antibiotics after a bite. Vermonters can mail ticks for free identification, and Alpha-gal syndrome is rare in the state.

Bella Hadid breaks silence on Lyme-linked isolation and depression
entertainment16 days ago

Bella Hadid breaks silence on Lyme-linked isolation and depression

Bella Hadid revealed a long-running fight with chronic illness, detailing “severe isolation and depression” tied to Lyme disease. In an Instagram Story, she described pain, exhaustion, brain fog, and anxiety despite following every doctor’s protocol, slept 11 hours, and apologized for alarming fans. She emphasized the ongoing struggle over the past 15 years, thanked friends for support, and noted that other family members are affected by Lyme disease.

RFK Jr.'s Lyme Plan Draws Fire for Endorsing Controversial Chronic-Lyme Claims
health23 days ago

RFK Jr.'s Lyme Plan Draws Fire for Endorsing Controversial Chronic-Lyme Claims

RFK Jr.'s new HHS Lyme plan includes a tick-control pilot and more research funding, but critics say it also promotes chronic-Lyme ideas and forges a link with ILADS, which could encourage unproven therapies. Mainstream medicine generally treats Lyme effectively with antibiotics, and the evidence for a persistent infection driving chronic symptoms (PTLDS) is weak or mixed. While some elements may improve prevention and awareness, the plan risks spreading misinformation and sidelining evidence-based care, particularly on vaccines and chronic-infection claims.

Ticks Are Expanding: Vaccine News and Practical Tips to Prevent Lyme Disease and Alpha-Gal Syndrome
health23 days ago

Ticks Are Expanding: Vaccine News and Practical Tips to Prevent Lyme Disease and Alpha-Gal Syndrome

Ticks are spreading into new areas, raising Lyme disease and alpha-gal syndrome risks. Scientists are advancing vaccines (Pfizer’s Lyme vaccine showed strong results) and other therapies, along with improved diagnostic tests, with the long-term goal of a universal anti-tick vaccine. In the meantime, individual prevention matters: use EPA-approved repellents, treat clothing with permethrin, check yourself and your gear after outdoor time, and beware that tiny summer nymphs are easy to miss. Early diagnosis and staying informed are key, even as concerns about federal funding for tick biology linger.

Tick bites spike nationwide, experts say pets are usually the gateway
health27 days ago

Tick bites spike nationwide, experts say pets are usually the gateway

Tick bites are rising across the U.S., with veterinarians noting that most cases begin with pets that pick up ticks outdoors and bring them indoors. Warmer, more humid conditions are boosting tick activity, highlighting the need for pet preventive care, regular tick checks, and prompt treatment for tick-related illnesses in both people and animals, including in areas like Asheville and western North Carolina.

Trail woodchips show promise in cutting tick presence
science-tech27 days ago

Trail woodchips show promise in cutting tick presence

A University of Ottawa study found that distributing woodchip borders along forest trail edges significantly reduces blacklegged tick numbers—about half—while deltamethrin-treated woodchips cut ticks by roughly 99% on treated segments. Framed as a One Health environmental intervention using recycled woodchips, this approach could offer a cost-effective way to protect trail users, though feasibility likely limits use to wide, high-use trails and must be paired with personal protection measures and tick surveillance.

Tick Bite ER Visits Surge as Climate Shifts in Southern Illinois
health28 days ago

Tick Bite ER Visits Surge as Climate Shifts in Southern Illinois

ER visits for tick bites are at their highest since 2017, driven by milder winters and changing weather that allow ticks to thrive earlier. The Lone Star tick is highlighted as an aggressive biter, and ticks can carry diseases such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and alpha-gal syndrome. Lyme disease affects an estimated 476,000 people treated annually in the U.S. Prevention tips include using EPA-registered repellents, wearing long sleeves and pants in wooded areas, performing full-body tick checks after outdoors, checking children and pets, and showering soon after coming indoors; more details are available from the Southern Seven Health Department on Facebook.

Tick Surge in Maine: Deer and Dog Ticks Invade Backyards and Play Areas
health1 month ago

Tick Surge in Maine: Deer and Dog Ticks Invade Backyards and Play Areas

Maine residents are seeing a surge of deer ticks and dog ticks, now in the adult stage, in backyards, on hikes, porches, and even playground equipment. A public health entomologist notes the uptick is because both major tick species are in their adult life cycle, prompting vigilance for outdoor activity and tick exposure.