Lyme Disease in East Texas

According to the CDC “Texas is a low incidence state for Lyme disease. From 2000 to 2020, an average of 85 human cases/year (min=11; max=276) were reported in Texas. The majority of these cases were acquired in a high incidence state or country, primarily from a state in the northeastern United States. View a breakdown of Lyme disease cases reported by Texas county and area of disease acquisition (2014-2020). “

While that is great news, we never want to diminish the fact that it is a serious concern to protect your family and animals from.

“Lyme disease is an illness caused by a type of bacteria (Borrelia burgdorferi) that’s transmitted through certain ticks. Both animals (dogs, cats, and horses) and people can become infected with these bacteria. A small percentage (5% to 10%) of infected dogs go on to develop signs of illness—which can be quite severe.” (Read more about lyme disease from AVMA here)

It is common for animals and humans who spend much of their time outdoors to come in contact with ticks. Here are some tips you can implement to reduce your risk of tick-borne diseases.

• Keep your pants leg and shirt sleeve openings covered or cinched tight. (here is a video)

• Perform daily checks for yourself, children and pets; shower and remove any ticks found as soon as possible.

• Deter ticks from being in your yard and surrounding areas by keeping tall grasses cut and brush cleared when possible.

• Contact your veterinarian for recommended products to keep ticks at bay for your animals.

• Do your due diligence to research trusted sites for suggestion on the best methods of preventing ticks from attaching to your or your family.