With Rising Temperatures, Ticks in the Northeast Are Coming Out of Hiding

With warmer days in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York, now is the time to check for ticks and take precautions against Lyme and other tick-borne diseases.
BROOKFIELD, CT., MAY 1, 2018 — Ticks are associated with warm spring and summer days; however, ticks are active year-round, even in the Northeast. And, they can carry a range of diseases that are harmful to humans.

“It only takes 48-hours of above-freezing temperatures for ticks to become active,” says Dr. Jeannie Kenkare, Chief Medical Officer and co-founder of PhysicianOne Urgent Care. “With the slight rise in temperature after a long winter, we all want to be outdoors. Whether you’re hiking, doing yard work, or spending any time at all in grassy or wooded areas, be sure to check yourself for ticks.”
Ticks are carriers of the bacterium that causes Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi. Lyme disease is passed to a human from the bite of an infected black-legged tick. Typically no larger than a small seed, these ticks tend to climb plants and grass, where they wait for a host. Once an animal or human passes by, the tick affixes itself to the host, so it can draw blood for nourishment. As it does, an infected tick may then transmit Borrelia burgdorferi into the host’s bloodstream.
You can reduce your risk of being bitten by a tick and being exposed to a tick-borne illness by using insect repellent and wearing long sleeves and long pants tucked into socks when walking through wooded areas. If you are bitten by a tick, removing the tick within 24-hours will greatly reduce your risk of getting Lyme disease. Therefore, performing daily tick checks is important so a tick can be removed before it transmits Lyme disease.
Lyme disease causes several telltale symptoms, including rash, fever, headache, fatigue and joint pain. If you suspect you’ve been bitten by a tick, visit your nearest PhysicianOne Urgent Care for evaluation and treatment, as soon as possible.
PhysicianOne Urgent Care, an Affiliate of Yale New Haven Health has hours that extend beyond the normal primary care provider hours, and has locations across Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Westchester County, New York. Walk in or check-in online to any PhysicianOne Urgent Care location, seven days per week.

About PhysicianOne Urgent Care
PhysicianOne Urgent Care provides quality, easily-accessible, walk-in medical care for non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries. All 17 locations throughout Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York are open 365 days per year; 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., weekdays, and 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., weekends and holidays. Experienced providers are on-site at all times. X-ray and lab services are available on-site. Insurance is accepted; self-pay options are also available. Parking is available at all locations.
Founded in 2008, PhysicianOne Urgent Care was the first in the market to be accredited and certified by the Urgent Care Association of America. In Connecticut and New York, PhysicianOne Urgent Care is proud to be an Affiliate of Yale New Haven Health.
For more information, including a list of services, locations, insurances accepted, career opportunities, to view wait times, and more, please visit www.PhysicianOneUrgentCare.com.