Incidents of tick-borne illnesses continue to rise, yet many people still live with the disease and its progression long before it is diagnosed.
There are many different tick species in the world, unfortunately, the ones that bite and transmit diseases to humans are becoming more prevalent in the United States, and many in backyards here in Illinois.
- Dog or Wood ticks found everywhere east of the Rocky Mountains in the United States, carry both Tularemia and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
- Black Legged Ticks found in the upper midwest and east coast carry Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis (Ehrlichia muris eauclairensis), Babesiosis, Borrelia Miyamotoi, and Powassan disease.
- Brown Dog Ticks are found all over the United States and other countries transmit Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
- LoneStar Ticks found in Illinois and east to the Atlantic and south through parts of Texas transmits Ehrlichia Chaffeensis and Ehrlichia Ewingii (which cause human ehrlichiosis), Heartland Virus, Tularemia, and STARI.
The disease symptoms mimic symptoms of other more common diseases and are many times not diagnosed until the patient seeks help from a medical practitioner aware of tick-borne illnesses.
The Lyme Support Network is a non-profit service organization dedicated to making a difference by building awareness of Lyme Disease and other tick-borne illnesses within the community. Run entirely by volunteers, many with Lyme disease and tick-borne illness, they have found great comfort in helping each other and people in the greater Chicagoland area become more aware of better diagnosis and treatments for these diseases.
Come support the group and learn more at their 9th Annual Lyme Disease Awareness Walk on September 24th, 2017. The event is held at Citizen's Park in Barrington, Illinois. It is an upbeat event with opportunities to learn from vendors and treatment providers, listen to live music, hear from inspirational speakers, take part in fun raffle prizes, and finally do some fun group stretches before taking to the path for a beautiful trail walk.
Learn more about the event and how you can get involved here