The most recent statistics the state Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had regarding Lyme disease were from 2010, according their websites. The average number of cases of Lyme disease in people in Schuylkill County is between 10 and 49 per 100,000, according to the Department of Health's website.
In 2010, 94 percent of Lyme disease cases were reported from 12 states: Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New York, Virginia and Wisconsin, according to the CDC.
"We are always one of the leading states for Lyme disease nationwide," Cronkright said.
"In general, insects of all species are out five to six weeks earlier this year than in typical years," she said.
"I think it's because of the mild winter and because it was rainy and there was so much moisture in the beginning of the year. We're getting cats and dogs in that are covered with them, just covered," Umlauf said.
However, Witman could not say for certain if the mild winter spurred an increase in tick population.
"With regards to the actual amount, that's really not something that we can conjecture. DEP, nor any other state agency, has an active tick-surveillance program," she said.
Pennsylvania is known for having a high rate of Lyme disease patients, according to Cronkright.
"In terms of being able to say for sure whether this will be a busier season for Lyme disease or not, we don't really know," Cronkright said Monday. "But what we do know is because the weather got warm so early, people have been spending more time outdoors, and the more time they spent outdoors, the more susceptible they are to being bitten by infected ticks."
Ticks revive threat of Lyme disease - News - Republican Herald
In 2010, 94 percent of Lyme disease cases were reported from 12 states: Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New York, Virginia and Wisconsin, according to the CDC.
"We are always one of the leading states for Lyme disease nationwide," Cronkright said.
"In general, insects of all species are out five to six weeks earlier this year than in typical years," she said.
"I think it's because of the mild winter and because it was rainy and there was so much moisture in the beginning of the year. We're getting cats and dogs in that are covered with them, just covered," Umlauf said.
However, Witman could not say for certain if the mild winter spurred an increase in tick population.
"With regards to the actual amount, that's really not something that we can conjecture. DEP, nor any other state agency, has an active tick-surveillance program," she said.
Pennsylvania is known for having a high rate of Lyme disease patients, according to Cronkright.
"In terms of being able to say for sure whether this will be a busier season for Lyme disease or not, we don't really know," Cronkright said Monday. "But what we do know is because the weather got warm so early, people have been spending more time outdoors, and the more time they spent outdoors, the more susceptible they are to being bitten by infected ticks."
Ticks revive threat of Lyme disease - News - Republican Herald
