RICHMOND, Va. - April 24, 2014 // PRNewswire // - Lyme disease doesn't discriminate. While singer Debbie Gibson is the latest noteworthy individual to announce her fight with the illness, lifestyle guru Martha Stewart, actor Alec Baldwin and President George W. Bush have all been given the Lyme disease diagnosis. Some say conditions are ripe for an increase in infected ticks and Lyme Disease this spring and summer due to warming temperatures, a particularly snowy and wet winter and, a fluctuating white tailed deer and fox population.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 300,000 Americans are being diagnosed with Lyme disease every year. Lyme disease is the most commonly reported vector-borne illness in the U.S. An illness that can have lifelong debilitating effects such as arthritis, fatigue and even neurological deficits, Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected blacklegged or deer ticks.
Experts at Mosquito Squad (http://www.mosquitosquad.com) are on watch and have tips to help homeowners mosquito and tick-proof their yards and make outdoor spaces safer.
"It's important to know that there are things you can do to protect yourself and your loved ones," said Boyd Huneycutt, Mosquito Squad's resident tick expert. "In addition to performing a daily tick check, there are specific actions a homeowner can take to eliminate tick and mosquito populations in their yard, thus reducing exposure for themselves, guests and pets."
The experts at Mosquito Squad recommend the following tips to help prepare for summer.
According to Huneycutt, there is actually an additional "C" for homeowners: communicate. "Once you understand how ticks breed, share that information with others, especially those with small children or those older than age 55. If Lyme disease is contracted by either of these groups, they typically sustain the most severe health complications," Huneycutt said.
When outdoors away from home, the CDC recommends wearing long-sleeved, long-legged, light-colored clothing. Tuck pant legs into socks to refuse ticks an entry point. Spray clothing and any exposed skin with a product containing 20 percent DEET. Clothing and other gear, but not skin, can be treated with Permethrin, which will kill ticks and mosquitoes on contact and should last through several washings. Check carefully for ticks after being outdoors.
With more than 140 franchise locations nationwide, Mosquito Squad specializes in eliminating mosquitoes and ticks from outdoor living spaces, allowing Americans to enjoy their yards, outdoor living spaces, special events and green spaces. For more information, visit www.MosquitoSquad.com, www.MosquitoSquadFranchise.com and www.OutdoorLivingBrands.com.
SOURCE Mosquito Squad