New Jersey is known as a high-risk area for diseases spread by ticks and mosquitoes, such as Lyme disease, West Nile virus, and potentially the Zika virus. Fortunately, we can help you combat these pests with our tick and mosquito control services. Our products are safe for children and pets while remaining effective.
Lyme disease is soaring in New Jersey, climbing to staggering levels not seen in nearly 20 years.
In 2017, there were 5,092 reported cases of Lyme disease in the state, the highest yearly total in nearly two decades, according to new data from the New Jersey Department of Health.
The rise may be due to "a combination of things," including more awareness about the disease and our ability to more accurately test for it than in years past, said Alvaro Toledo, an assistant professor at Rutgers University who studies ticks.
But, the other reasons, according to Toledo, are most likely due to New Jersey's large population of rodents and deer.
The deer tick (or the black-legged tick), which New Jersey is notorious for, is not born with Lyme disease. It has to acquire it just like humans. How? Typically rodents, specifically the white-footed mouse, he said.
These ticks then need deer to feed, mate and make babies.
New Jersey's large population of deer and rodents has allowed the ticks to stay in business.
"Having a lot of them allow ticks to multiple and lay many eggs that later on will hatch."
While the rate has climbed in the state overall, some counties have been faring worse than others.
The problem has become so pervasive that it's even caught the attention of legislators and top state health officials.
Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and state Health Commissioner Dr. Shereef Elnahal held an event at Mountain Way Park in Parsippany on Monday to "discuss efforts to stem the tide, and to raise awareness," according to a statement from Menendez's office, which noted the additional federal resources that were recently acquired in a spending package signed into law that will be geared toward combating Lyme disease.
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