The Lower Hudson Valley has long been considered the epicenter
for Lyme disease in New York state. As a result, most Dutchess
County residents are well acquainted with the disease. They know
it's spread by a tick bite, they perform tick checks after
spending time in the forested and brushy habitats ticks prefer,
and they consult with a physician if they develop a bull's-eye
rash or fever with accompanying muscle pain. Disease
transmission spikes in the summer, reflecting the peak in
feeding by nymphal ticks and human outdoor activity. On the
whole, the number of infections and the disease's range is
increasing. Could climate change be playing a role? To
understand the impact of a warming climate on Lyme disease, it's
helpful to reflect on the history of this tick-borne illness.
When Lyme disease was first discovered in the 1970s in southern
New England and New York, scientists identified a new bacterium
(Borrelia burgdorferi) that causes the disease. They also
thought they had found a new species of tick that