Our crusade against tick-borne diseases continues. These diseases (Lyme Disease, Ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis) are devastating to people and pets. The diseases are not restricted to New England but occur all over the United States, indeed all over the world.
At right is a photo of a spirochete, the type of bacterium that causes Lyme Disease. Looks a lot like a drill bit, doesn’t it? And that’s exactly what these bacteria do. They “drill” into your tissues, causing an unbelievable amount of suffering for Lyme Disease victims and untold expense to patients and to the health care system.
A new documentary film entitled “Under Our Skin” investigates personal and political (yes, you read that right - political ) aspects of tick-borne diseases.
Please take a moment to visit the documentary’s web site at www.underourskin.com. Watch the trailers. Read the heartbreaking stories. Look for the film’s opening in theaters later this year. And protect yourself and your pets from ticks. Please see our Ticks and Tick Diseases page for basic information. Also check out our Rhode Island Pet Links page for links to the Tick Encounter Resource Center at the University of Rhode Island.
Meantime, you can purchase your personal copy of the film “Under Our Skin” or arrange to have a public viewing of the film at your school, library, or other organization.
With Spring comes a return to gardening, hiking, and other outdoor activities. You owe it to yourself and your pets to learn as much as you can about tick-borne diseases. You could be saving your own life or that of your pets.
Until next time,
Mr. Dibs (recently diagnosed with anaplasmosis)
