VIRTUAL: Ticks & Tick-Borne Threats

Explore the the biology of ticks and the growing threat of tick-borne diseases. While Lyme disease (caused by Borrelia burgdorferi and transmitted by blacklegged ticks) is the most common vector-borne disease in North America, there are many other serious pathogens carried by different tick species, including those causing babesiosis, anaplasmosis, Powassan encephalitis, and alpha-gal syndrome. Understand the three-phase risk framework — pre-bite prevention (proper clothing, DEET/picaridin on skin, permethrin on clothing, yard sprays), tick bite response (simple removal with fine-tipped tweezers, avoiding myths like using Vaseline or squeezing), and post-bite risk assessment using tick testing through TickReport, which identifies the tick species, evaluates feeding duration, and tests for pathogen DNA to help gauge individual risk. Learn how not all tick species carry the same pathogens, not every tick is infected, and transmission risk increases with feeding time, making individualized assessment valuable. Discover resources from NEWVEC (New England Center of Excellence in Vector-borne Diseases) and the TickReport website. Led by Dr. Stephen Rich, a UMass Microbiology professor and director of the Laboratory of Medical Zoology. He is also principal owner of Medzu Inc., which provides the TickReport testing service. Note: This event will be recorded. All registrants will receive the video link soon after the program. To register for this event, click HERE!