New York, NY (PRWEB) June 19, 2013
This summer as thousands of children across the U.S. leave for camp, the Tick-Borne Disease Alliance (TBDA), a national nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness, supporting initiatives, and promoting advocacy to find a cure for Lyme and other tick-borne diseases, is calling on parents to take proper precautions to protect their little ones from tick-borne diseases, including Lyme. This is especially important as studies have shown the highest reported incidence of Lyme disease occurs among children ages five to fourteen years old.
Deer ticks are active all year round, but their peak season of activity begins in May and continues through September throughout the United States. In order to feed, these small bugs (no bigger than a poppy seed) seek a host, including mice, birds, squirrels, deer, and unfortunately, children. Deer ticks thrive in humid environments and can be found virtually anywhere their hosts live from woodlands, lawns and playing fields, to tree stumps and picnic tables – areas commonly found at outdoor summer camps.
“Deer ticks are cesspools of disease, and they put your children at risk of contracting Lyme disease and many other potentially debilitating diseases such as babesiosis, anaplasmosis, bartonella, tularemia and mycoplasma,” explains Bob Oley, TBDA Public Health Consultant. “These microscopic bugs pose an enormous threat to our children, who are especially vulnerable during the summer months. It is imperative to educate ourselves about tick-borne diseases, and take the necessary precautions to protect our children from them.”
Before sending children to summer camp, TBDA recommends that parents take the following steps to protect children from ticks and tick-borne diseases:
Click here to read more of TBDA Public Health Consultant Bob Oley’s tips for protecting your children from tick-borne diseases this summer.
To learn more about the threat of tick-borne diseases and what you can do to help build awareness about the health crisis posed by Lyme and other tick-borne diseases, visit TBDAlliance.org.
About the Tick-Borne Disease Alliance (TBDA)
The Tick-Borne Disease Alliance is dedicated to raising awareness, supporting initiatives and promoting advocacy to find a cure for tick-borne diseases, including Lyme. As part of its efforts, TBDA is embarking on a quest to develop a reliable diagnostic tool as a first step toward eradicating the diseases. Working with others in the tick-borne disease community nationwide, TBDA seeks to raise public awareness through education and create a unified voice for advocacy regarding the current epidemic in order to make a real difference. More information about TBDA, Lyme and tick-borne diseases, and prevention and protection can be found at http://www.TBDAlliance.org.
Brittnie Mabry, brittnie(at)philandcompany(dot)com, 646.490.6446
Morgan Procida, morgan(at)philandcompany(dot)com, 646.490.6446