It’s the time of year when many of us enjoy spending time outdoors, especially the 4th of July next week.
According to research from Pittsburg State’s Biology department, the tick population in southeast Kansas is on the rise. KRPS’s Fred Fletcher-Fierro has more.
College campuses like Pitt State might have fewer students during the summer months but that doesn't mean the work has stopped for professors like Dr. Anu Ghosh.
Tick’s, unfortunately for Dr. Ghosh don’t follow the academic calendar so that she can take summers off.
It’s just the opposite.
Tick populations throughout the US are the highest in the summer and with it the number of tick bites reported to the CDC.
Bites can cause everything from no signs, to rashes and flu-like symptoms. Dr. Ghosh has this advice if you’re going to spend time outdoors.
“Spraying with the DEET, that’s another thing that you can use repellents on your skin. But otherwise, the main thing is the tick check. If you can do that immediately then you’re not going to be exposed to the diseases.”
This year Dr. Ghosh and her students are working with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to carry out surveillance in parks and recreational areas, and to detect pathogen load in this tick population.
