‘Maintain a healthy respect that nature may strike back’

Public health authorities assert that this year is especially challenging for ticks, attributed to milder winters and wet springs across various regions of the country.

During a virtual session hosted by Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health, specialists in medicine, epidemiology, and environmental health convened to inform the audience that these tiny, six-legged pests, which can transmit a number of serious illnesses, could severely disrupt summer activities if not treated with caution.

“Step outside. Appreciate nature; it’s beneficial for your health; but maintain a healthy caution as nature occasionally strikes back,” stated Richard Pollack, senior environmental public health officer.

Gaurab Basu, an assistant professor in the Department of Environmental Health, emphasized the need to confront tick season mindfully, as cases of Lyme disease and other tick-related ailments are increasing.

“[We require] vigilance, not fear,” he expressed during the event, livestreamed on July 1.

Basu remarked that climate change has altered tick behavior and distribution; notably, they emerge sooner and stay longer. While these arachnids are most active in warmer months, they’ve been spotted even in January in certain locations.

“We can’t definitively attribute any specific case of Lyme to climate change,” Basu mentioned. “However, we must comprehend the impact of our actions on the environment, the consequences of burning fossil fuels, and the global warming trends we are creating as a result.”

Traditional hot spots remain active, especially in New England and the Midwest, yet the regions thriving with ticks are expanding.

Cassandra Pierre, an assistant professor at Boston University’s Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, reported that instances of tick-borne Rocky Mountain spotted fever are increasing in southern Massachusetts, including areas like Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard. While uncommon, it is a potentially fatal illness if not identified and treated promptly.

“Lyme disease certainly overshadows everything else we observe,” Pierre stated. Even so, she pointed out that occurrences of some of the rarer tick-borne illnesses — such as anaplasmosis and babesiosis — have surged.

An increase in co-infection rates, which involve patients infected with multiple types of tick-borne diseases, complicates matters further. These instances may lead to more severe symptoms, treatment delays, and extended illnesses.

Pollack provided fundamental safety tips for navigating high-risk outdoor environments.

While hiking, stick to trails; wear light-colored trousers and socks to easily spot a tick (Pollack advised listeners to flick the tick off and “send the tick for a ride”); pre-treat garments with an EPA-registered form of permethrin, a synthetic compound derived from chrysanthemums, known to be safe for people; and apply EPA-registered insect repellent to exposed skin.

Check yourself periodically when outdoors, and once more upon your return indoors. If a tick is discovered, remove it immediately using fine-tip tweezers, your fingernail, or a credit card.

“Swift action is significantly more crucial than the actual method of removal,” Pollack stated. “The longer a tick remains attached, the greater the likelihood it will transmit harmful pathogens to you.”

“When ticks attach, they need to remain for a duration of 24-36 hours to have the chance to expose their host — in this case humans — to [pathogens],” stated Pierre, who is also the medical director of public health programs and an associate hospital epidemiologist at Boston Medical Center. This is why frequent checks are vital.

The antibiotic doxycycline, available by prescription, can reduce the risk of infection by up to 87 percent if taken within 72 hours of the bite.

Ultimately, ticks are part of our natural ecosystem, Pollack commented.

“Nature is an essential element of human health and public health. Respect for nature is necessary, and I believe we often neglect this,” Basu stated. “We must incorporate this awareness into how we design our communities, the type of energy we utilize, and the locations of our infrastructures. [These factors] carry significant implications for public health.”

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The session was moderated by Dave Epstein, a meteorologist for WGBH and a correspondent for The Boston Globe. To view the complete event, visit the Chan School’s YouTube channel. For additional details on Lyme disease, check the Lyme Wellness Initiative.