Ticks and Lyme Disease
As parasites, ticks feed on the blood of other organisms. These hosts vary from environment to environment, although all tick species choose animals larger than themselves on which to feed. Humans are not defined as the primary host of any tick species, but are instead considered accidental hosts: when in an area populated by a tick's preferred host, humans often receive bites and may also contract diseases.
Ticks are known to carry and transmit typhus, spotted fever, relapsing fever, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia. However, the most dangerous of all tick-borne diseases is Lyme disease. Named for the town of Lyme, Connecticut, Lyme disease is passed to humans primarily through deer tick bites, although other tick species, such as the lone star tick, are also known vectors.
Lyme disease is not airborne and cannot be passed from human to human. Symptoms may not appear for weeks or months and are often confused with those of other, less dangerous illnesses such as the flu. However, if treated promptly with appropriate antibiotics, humans can recover from Lyme disease. Seek medical attention immediately after identifying a tick bite or the appearance of any Lyme-like symptoms.
