Stanford University has recently discovered two more Lyme-disease-causing bacterial strains on ticks in the Northern California area. The two strains, Borrelia miyamotoi and Borrelia burgdorferi are known to cause Lyme disease and have been found in 10.6 percent of young ticks and 8.1 percent of adult ticks in Northern California. While many of those ticks were discovered in the Bay Area, the risk of Lyme disease in the Sacramento area is also an increased factor.
An analysis of the effects of Lyme disease infection from these particular strains was conducted in 2013. 51 patients were found to suffer from severe headaches, muscle pain, fever, joint pain, and fatigue. Nearly an entire quarter of these patients required hospitalization. However, very few of the patients’ Lyme disease infections were successfully detected by traditional Lyme disease tests and did not develop the hallmark bullseye mark expected with Lyme disease infection.
For years, the risk of Lyme disease from tick bites was seen as a problem almost solely found on the East coast and in the Midwest. However, these findings show that the risk of Lyme disease from ticks in Northern California is a very real concern. Enjoying the beautiful outdoors in the Sacramento area shouldn’t come with a risk of serious disease. If you have a tick problem on or around your property, call Specialized Pest Patrol for tick eradication and prevention strategies.