Black-legged (deer) ticks can be found across Eastern Texas and parts of the middle of the state. They can carry Lyme disease, which is only transmitted by a bite from an infected tick.
Houston Chronicle files
Lyme disease has been spreading across the United States, with more cases covering more territory in recent years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
It has been spreading across the United States from New England states like Connecticut, Vermont, Maine and New Hampshire. Texas does have the environmental conditions for the black-legged ticks that carry the disease, which is relatively uncommon here.
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What is Lyme disease?
Lyme disease is spread by a bite from black-legged ticks, also called deer ticks, that are carrying bacteria, either Borrelia burgdorferi or Borrelia mayonii. It is the most prevalent vector-borne disease (one caused by an insect or an arachnid) in the United States; even more prevalent than West Nile or dengue fever, which come from mosquitoes.
Ticks are actually arachnids because they have eight legs. It’s most common for adult female ticks to bite people, but ticks in the nymph or larva stage also can bite and carry Lyme disease, according to the CDC. Spring begins the tick-biting season that can last through fall, but it’s also possible for ticks to bite during above-freezing winter days.
Lyme disease is named after Lyme, Connecticut, where there was a cluster of cases in 1975, though Lyme disease has probably been around since the 1880s.
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A deer tick, also called a black-legged tick, can carry Lyme disease, which is a bacteria spread by a tick bite.
John Carl D’Annibale/Times Union
Are the Lyme disease ticks in Texas?
East Texas and the center of the state, including Austin, have the right kind of environment for black-legged ticks, according to the CDC. These ticks like to be in areas where their food sources, mainly deer or other large mammals, are prevalent. They like forests and tall grasses and will feed on the blood of many mammals, including mice, squirrels, cows, dogs and humans.
Black-legged ticks have been identified in Bell County north of Austin; Bexar County (San Antonio) and Real County, west of San Antonio; as well as in counties around Houston and Tyler. They have not been found in Travis, Williamson, Hays or Bastrop counties, according to the CDC, but that doesn’t mean they are not here.
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Texas has had cases of Lyme disease, most of which were from people bitten while traveling elsewhere and then returning home. From 2014-2020, Texas had 331 reported cases, 212 from people who had traveled, 74 from unknown origin and 45 from local ticks, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. Bastrop and Hays counties had no cases. Travis County had 27 cases, including one thought to be locally acquired, and Williamson County had five cases, none known to be locally acquired.
This Centers for Disease Control and Prevention map notes where the black-legged tick has been documented in red and where the conditions are right for this tick in yellow.
Provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
What are the symptoms of Lyme disease?
Lyme disease looks like many other diseases in the first 30 days after the tick bite:
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Fever
Headache
Fatigue
Muscle and joint aches
Swollen lymph nodes
A rash that looks like a bulls-eye appears in 70% to 80% of people about seven days after the bite
Later symptoms can include:
The bulls-eye rash is a classic Lyme disease symptom, but some of the other symptoms resemble many illnesses.
James Gathany/AP
Severe headache and neck stiffness
More bulls-eye rashes
Drooping of one or both sides of the face
Arthritis with severe joint pain and swelling
Pain in tendons, muscles and bone
Heart palpitations or irregular heartbeat
Dizziness or shortness of breath
Inflammation of the brain and spinal cord
Nerve pain
Shooting pains, numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
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How is Lyme disease treated?
If caught in the early stages, people are given antibiotics, and they usually heal well. Sometimes antibiotics are given after a bite even before symptoms emerge.
About 10% to 20% of people with Lyme disease develop a chronic condition, post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome, which is similar to long COVID. They have brain fog, fatigue, dizziness, mood disorders, pain, body aches and sleep disorders. Doctors then manage their symptoms.
How can you avoid Lyme disease?
The best prevention is to avoid bites.
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Wear insect repellent with DEET and/or insect-repellent clothing that covers legs and arms.
Avoid walking through tall grass or in areas with a lot of leaves.
Shower after being outside.
Check your whole body for ticks, especially hard-to-see areas like the armpits, hair, knees and groin.
Tumble dry clothes on high heat for 10 minutes.
What happens if I find a tick?
If you find a tick attached to your body, use tweezers to grab the tick as close to the skin surface as possible. Pull up slowly with even pressure. Do not twist the tick or yank it. Do not squeeze the tick because it can spread more disease-filled fluid into your skin. Then wash the area and your hands with soap and water. Observe the bite area for signs of a rash or infection.
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