May is Lyme & Tick-Borne Disease Awareness Month – Let’s Talk Ticks

Dear Friends,

May is Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Awareness Month and I want to share something that’s been on my mind since I attended a lecture last year by world-renowned entomologist Dr. Dan Sonenshine, titled “Ticks: World’s Most Dangerous Vectors.”

As I listened to Dr. Sonenshine describe the jaw-dropping survival tactics of these tiny arachnids, I couldn’t help but wonder:

Do most people truly understand how dangerous ticks are?

Growing up, I worried about leeches — (anyone else remember that scene from Rambo?) — but it turns out the most prevalent and insidious bloodsuckers are ticks. Dr. Sonenshine laid out in detail just how well-adapted they are to survive and thrive. All it takes is one bite. Right timing. Wrong place. Period.

At the end of his talk, I asked him point-blank:

“Would non-entomologists agree that ticks are the most dangerous vector in the world? I mean, does anything else come even close?”

He didn’t hesitate: “NOTHING comes even close.”

So why doesn’t the majority of vector-borne disease funding in the U.S. go toward mitigating exposure to ticks (like they do for mosquitoes in coastal areas, right)?

To be clear: change is happening. But we need to push for more.

Thanks for joining us in the fight to reduce the impacts of the “World’s Most Dangerous Vectors.” Together, we can protect more people, more families, and more communities.

Yours truly ticked off,

Jennifer Platt, DrPH

P.S. Looking for eco-friendly tick protection for your loved ones? Visit our sister company’s website TickWarriors.com for free shipping all month on purchases over $50.