Immunologist Nicole Baumgarth explains why ticks are spreading to new regions

NPR's Eyder Peralta speaks with immunologist Nicole Baumgarth about why ticks are spreading to new regions, and what this increase in ticks could mean for the spread of Lyme disease. NPR Science LISTEN & FOLLOW Science Immunologist Nicole Baumgarth explains why ticks are spreading to new regions June 6, 20267:41 AM ET Heard on Weekend Edition Saturday Eyder Peralta Immunologist Nicole Baumgarth explains why ticks are spreading to new regions Listen · Transcript Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www. npr. org/player/embed/nx-s1-5845122/nx-s1-9799966" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript NPR's Eyder Peralta speaks with immunologist Nicole Baumgarth about why ticks are spreading to new regions, and what this increase in ticks could mean for the spread of Lyme disease. EYDER PERALTA, HOST: New data from the CDC suggest ticks are spreading farther than their normal regions in the U. S., and experts are worried that could also mean an increase in tick-borne illnesses like Lyme disease. Joining us now to explain more is Nicole Baumgarth. She's a professor of infectious diseases and director of Johns Hopkins University's Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Research and Education Institute. Professor, thank you for being here. PERALTA: How are tick-related incidents tracked? BAUMGARTH: They are usually tracked . So every state department has a requirement for most tick-borne illnesses to be reported. So if you go to a local GP's office, if you have a tick-borne illness such as Lyme disease, your health professionals are supposed to report it to the health department. And they will collate the data and then send it to the Centers for Disease Control. PERALTA: And so the CDC reported an overall increase in incidents, but now things look more stable. Still, as we said, ticks seem to be spreading beyond where they are typically found this time of year. BAUMGARTH: So we have seen over the last three decades an increasing spread of ticks. This has to do with climate change. As the climate, in particular in the northern hemisphere, is warming, ticks can spread more north. So, for example, 20 years ago, there were really no overwintering ticks in the south of Canada. Now we have endemic populations of ticks, and they can transmit Lyme disease there. We also live closer to areas where ticks like to live. And we have a loss of biodiversity, meaning certain species that ticks like to feed on, such as deer and the white-footed mouse in the Northeastern United States, have expanded.