The Truth about Ticks and Lyme Disease in Contra Costa County

Written by Jacob Bourne, Jennifer Squires and Derek Wilson

Ticks pose a significant danger to both pets and humans in California.

The blacklegged tick (scientifically known at the Ixodes pacificus), which is not uncommon across the state, carries Lyme Disease because it can contain the potentially fatal agent Borrelia burgdorferi.

Lyme disease starts as a tick bite and can develop into a rash, arthritis, severe headache, temporary paralysis, numbness, memory loss, mood swings and heart problems. 

The California Department of Public Health has compiled data on Lyme disease and tick prevalence for every county in the state. Check out the interactive map above to see how Contra Costa County compares to the rest of the state.

According to the map, from 2002-2011, there were 0.13 cases of Lyme disease per 100,000 people per year in Contra Costa County. There were four reported Lyme diagnoses was 2003 and 2005 in Contra Costa County. Between 2006-2011, there were three years when only one case was reported.. 

From 1985 until 2013, the department collected 5,527 blacklegged ticks in Contra Costa County to test them for the Lyme disease agent. Of that population, only 1.5 percent of the adult ticks tested positive. Of the 374 nymphal ticks collected, 2.1 percent tested positive.

A tick bite is certainly not an automatic diagnosis. However, if you are bitten by a tick, contact a doctor immediately to get further instructions. Many doctors will prescribe antibiotics to treat the area and prevent Lyme disease.

Have you noticed ticks around lately? Any good ideas to prevent tick bites? Tell us in the comments!