Many people are squeezing in the last bit of summer by enjoying the outdoors through walks, hiking on trails, biking, camping, outdoor sports, and picnics in parks and forests. Unfortunately, these activities \u2013 sometimes even in our own backyards \u2013 increase our risk of being exposed to ticks and the diseases they carry. <\/p>\n
\nTicks are a nuisance. No one wants anything on their body that drinks their blood or \u2013 worse than that \u2013 also give you a disease. Most people are familiar with Lyme disease, but not the many other equally serious diseases that ticks carry. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now lists 14 diseases that ticks in the United States can transmit and cause human disease. Some of these disease include Powassan Virus, Babeosis, Rocky Mountain Fever. The diseases that ticks carry can cause various types of long term effects that can shut down the body and even cause death.<\/p>\n
\nMy family and I were reminded several weeks ago of the health threat from ticks when my cousin went on a camping trip. My cousin returned home tick-free, but his wife found three small deer ticks embedded in his skin. So far, he is fortunate that he has not shown any symptoms of Lyme disease, but his physician has scheduled a blood test because Lyme disease is common in our area. So my cousin\u2019s ordeal with ticks is not over yet.<\/p>\n
\nWhat can you do to avoid ticks and the risk of diseases they carry for the rest of this summer? The CDC has suggestions on steps everyone can take to avoid ticks on themselves, their pets, and in their yards. Here are a few things you can do:<\/p>\n