This Might Be a Bad Summer for Lyme Disease

Big crop of acorns, mice signal potential trouble
By Dustin Lushing,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 14, 2012 4:04 PM CDT
This Might Be a Bad Summer for Lyme Disease
A white-footed mouse.   (Shutterstock)

A surge in cases of Lyme disease could be hiding in the forest. Scientists say the northeastern US might be staring at "the worst year yet" for the bacterial illness, reports Wired. The reason starts with acorns: In 2010, there was a huge crop of them, which led to a population boom of white-footed mice in 2011. The mice are essential hosts of the ticks that carry Lyme disease and infect humans. “We’re already working with health departments," says one researcher. (More Lyme disease stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X