Prevention of Tick-Borne Diseases in Virginia
New in 2025!

Ticks can be tiny and hard to spot, and bites from these arachnids can be irritating and harmful to your health as they can transmit serious diseases, including Lyme disease, the Alpha-gal food allergy, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Ahead of the spring planting and gardening season, join Elizabeth Forrey, Tick Surveillance Coordinator for the Virginia Department of Health, for a timely presentation on the ecology of tickborne diseases in Virginia with a discussion of several tick species and important tips on tick bite prevention.

Zoom session, recorded April 25, 2025

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Additional Resources

Full PowerPoint Presentation pdf

Addendum of questions asked in the chat

• Are mice sickened by the Lyme Disease they carry?
  It appears that white-footed mice (Peromycus leucopus) are not negatively affected by a Lyme (Borrelia burgdorferi) infection. They do not have elevated white-blood cell counts and their activity is not affected by infection, in comparison to humans and lab mice/house mice (Mus musculus) which are affected by infection.
  • Baum, E., Hue, F., Barbour, A. Experimental Infections of the Reservoir Species Peromyscus leucopus with Diverse Strains of Borrelia burgdorferi, a Lyme Disease Agent. (2012). https://doi.org/10.1128/mbio.00434-12.
  • Schwanz, L., Voordouw, M., Brisson, D., Ostfeld, R. Borrelia burgdorferi Has Minimal Impact on the Lyme Disease Reservoir Host Peromyscus leucopus. (2011). https://doi.org/10.1089/vbz.2009.0215
    

• Can you summarize how to establish tick free zones and barriers?
  The CDC has some great information about this topic that can be found here: Preventing Tick Bites | Ticks | CDC. In summary, clear brush and leaf litter from the area of your lawn closest to your home and place children’s play sets within this cleared area. Then create a barrier of (frequently maintained) woodchips or gravel to separate your lawn from the unmaintained wooded area that is found at the edges of most suburban properties. If you want to apply pesticides, you should apply it to this woodchip/gravel barrier.
  
• Do ticks really drop out of pine trees?
  No. Ticks do not drop out of trees. Ticks like humid areas (ex. leaflitter, shady grass) and a tree branch is too windy and dry for them to survive. Most ticks attach to you by grabbing onto your foot or leg. Ticks instinctively climb upwards on a host so they can find a dark, hidden place to bite. If you have a tick on your head, it probably climbed up your whole body to get there unless you were lying on the ground.
  
• How often does encephalitis occur with Lyme disease?
  According to the CDC, meningitis or encephalitis occurs in approximately 3% of Neurologic Lyme disease cases but they state that this might be an overestimate. Neurologic Lyme disease is a more rare form of Lyme that is controversial in North America and requires more study, so many sources online saying Lyme neuroborreliosis occurs in 15% of Lyme cases may be referring to studies conducted in Europe where Lyme disease is very different.
  • Clinical Care and Treatment of Neurologic Lyme Disease | Lyme Disease | CDC
  • Marques, A., Strle, F., Wormser, G. Comparison of Lyme Disease in the United States and Europe. (2021) Emerging Infectious Disease. Comparison of Lyme Disease in the United States and Europe – Volume 27, Number 8—August 2021 – Emerging Infectious Diseases journal – CDC
    Please check the section labeled “Neurologic Manifestations”
    

MGNV & VCE Resources

• Mosquito and Tick Management: Pesticide Reduction for Pollinator Protection
• Controlling Mosquitoes & Ticks in Your Yard without Pesticides – Recorded Public Education class
• Common Ticks of Virginia – Virginia Cooperative  Extension

Government Resources

Based on a post by Joan McIntyre, Extension Master Gardener