Save the tick — and report the incident

Ticks, ticks and more ticks.

 Submitted photo

We’re moving into tick season again, and it has been reported that Oregon has seen a significant increase in tick activity this year. Theresa Denham, the founder of the Oregon Lyme Disease Network (OLDN), has received 32 phone calls of attached ticks on people in Oregon in the last week alone — a significant increase compared to the same time last year. At least three incidents (roughly 10 percent) are associated with signs of infection (EM or generalized rash, or other symptoms).

Black-legged ticks and American dog ticks can carry and transmit to humans severe and potentially long-lasting diseases. For example, black-legged ticks are known to carry Lyme disease, Babesia, Erlichia, Relapsing fever, and Anaplasmosis. American dog ticks are known to carry Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) and Tularemia.