Photo: WBZ NewsRadio Archive
LYNN, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — With tick season in full swing, health officials are warning of an uptick in tick-borne illnesses.
In May, Saugus Public Health recorded seven Lyme disease cases. Statewide, there were 134 emergency room visits for tick-borne illnesses in April alone.
In Lynnwood's Reservation, some residents like Tom are all too familiar with the little menaces.
"I had a bad run-in with the ticks. I got Babesia. It's not Lyme disease; it's a disease that put me in the hospital intensive care for five days," he explained.
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Relatives of the spider family, the tiny creatures are generally found in wooded, brushy areas with grass. They attach and feed on the blood of birds, mammals, and reptiles. And while the most common ticks in Massachusetts are deer and dog ticks, experts warn that different ticks can spread different diseases.
Some residents, like Kathy, say their four-legged friends have already had run-ins with ticks.
"This white dog Jessie actually just got tested positive for Lyme disease. They're both on medicine to prevent Lyme disease, but somehow, ticks got through to him," she said.
Health officials recommend checking yourself and your pets all over for ticks after walks. Officials also say tweezers are the best tool to remove a tick.
WBZ NewsRadio’s James Rojas (@JamesRojas.bsky.social) reports.