Is There Risk Of Ticks, Lyme Disease In Laguna Beach?

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — The San Francisco-based Bay Area Lyme Foundation says they have discovered a potentially debilitating tick-borne issue at southern California beaches.

Linda Giampa, president of the foundation, says that there are hotspots of ticks bearing Lyme disease in Malibu, Manhattan Beach and Newport Beach. Her findings are based on an ongoing study that the Lyme Foundation is funding in Southern California, according to a report in the Los Angeles Times.

Early symptoms of Lyme disease include fever, chills, fatigue and muscle aches and swollen lymph nodes. Untreated, Lyme disease can cause arthritis, swollen joints, facial palsy, heart irregularities, brain inflammation and nerve pain.

The Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District has not determined that cases of Lyme disease found in Orange County came from ticks, according to the LA Times report. That agency has tested over 18,000 ticks for the bacteria that causes Lyme disease since 1989. They say there has not ben a positive test since 1991. In 2021, out of 1,381 ticks tested, none have carried the bacteria that leads to Lyme disease.

Los Angeles County sees around 25 suspected cases of Lyme Disease a year, according to the Department of Public Health. The disease in these cases is not thought to come from area beaches.

There is a relatively low risk for tick-borne illness in Southern California, but just because Lyme disease isn't likely doesn't mean you won't pick up a blood-sucking tick on a hike.

Ticks can be as small as a poppy seed, and harder to spot on animal fur or skin. The Western black-legged tick found in southern California is able to spread Lyme disease, according to a report from the LA Times.

How do you avoid getting ticks at the beach or while hiking?

• If you want to avoid the little critters here are some ideas:
• Don't hike in brushy overgrowth or off trails. Avoid plant-contact.
• Wear long pants and long sleeves.
• Wear insect repellent with 10 to 35 percent DEET while camping or hiking.
• Remove ticks as soon as you see them with tweezers. Make sure you remove the head.
• Shower right after a hike or other exposure.
• Wash clothes in hot water and dry them in the dryer after hiking.
• Check your pets for ticks, too.

So enjoy the sand and the sun this summer, and be on the lookout to stay tick-safe.