Lyme Disease: A Quick Overview
Lyme disease is spread by blacklegged ticks, which are also called deer ticks. Ticks will attach to a host to get a blood meal and usually have to be attached for at least 24 hours to transmit Lyme disease.
Symptoms of this disease can appear as soon as a few days after transmission to over a month after transmission, and often resemble flu-like symptoms, including fever, muscle and joint aches, headache, and fatigue. Although the bullseye rash is what most people look for to identify Lyme disease, this rash only occurs in about 20% of Lyme disease cases.
Because Lyme disease can become a chronic health issue, leading to neurological issues, heart problems, and arthritis, it’s important to identify and treat it as early as possible. When caught early, a course of antibiotics usually takes care of the disease.
Is Lyme Disease a Concern in Atlanta?
Thankfully, Lyme disease is not prevalent in the Atlanta area. However, it does exist here. According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, 136 cases of Lyme disease were reported in Georgia between 2019 and 2023.
As with many pests, deer ticks continue to expand their territories. With this expansion comes the risk of contracting Lyme disease from an infected tick. Although the risk remains low in Atlanta, it does exist.
Other Tick-Borne Threats in Georgia
Unfortunately, Lyme disease is not the only threat from tick bites. Atlanta is home to several tick species, all of which can transmit a variety of diseases.
- Along with Lyme disease, deer ticks can transmit anaplasmosis.
- Lone Star ticks are known for causing red meat allergies and transmitting ehrlichiosis.
- American dog ticks are carriers of Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
No matter the tick species, if you have them on your property, you are at risk of contracting a disease.
How to Protect Yourself and Your Family
Protecting yourself, your family, and your pets from tick-borne diseases requires you to prevent ticks from biting you. To prevent ticks from biting you, you have to avoid coming into contact with them. The following tick prevention tips will help you keep your family safe from ticks bites by keeping ticks off your property and off your family:
- Wear light-colored clothing and tuck pants into socks when hiking or gardening.
- Use tick repellents on skin and clothes.
- Perform tick checks after spending time outdoors.
- Keep your grass trimmed.
- Remove brush piles and leaf litter.
- Create a barrier between wooded areas and your yard.
- Treat pets regularly with vet-recommended flea and tick preventatives.
Get Effective Tick Control with got bugs? Flea and Tick Service
At got bugs? we understand the risks associated with a tick infestation on your North Atlanta property. No matter what species of ticks shows up on your lawn, they are capable of spreading diseases and should be eliminated. Our flea and tick control service will help you protect your family from ticks.
We’ll start by talking with you over the phone to gather information, provide you with a quote for our services, and give you a list of things to prepare prior to our first treatment. It’s important that your lawn is prepped for service so that we can deliver the most effective results.
During our first treatment, we’ll treat your yard, paying special attention to common flea and tick hotspots. We’ll then return to your property 30 days later for a re-treatment to ensure the best results.
If fleas are already present in your home, we’ll also conduct an interior treatment during our first and follow-up services.
Contact got bugs? For Tick Control That Works
Although it’s not a huge risk here, Lyme disease continues to be a growing problem in Atlanta and beyond. With the many other diseases that ticks can spread, being aware of the problems that ticks cause allows you to enact the preventative tick control measures you need to protect your family and pets from all tick-borne diseases.
For effective tick control in North Atlanta including Cumming and Alpharetta, contact got bugs? today to schedule your flea and tick control treatments. We’ll eliminate the ticks on your property so that you can spend time outdoors without fear. Get in touch with us today!
