Bard College Professor Felicia Keesing Interviewed in Scientific American about Tick-Borne Illnesses

Dr. Felicia Keesing, Bard College’s David and Rosalie Rose Distinguished Professor of Science, Mathematics, and Computing, was interviewed about ticks and how to protect against the diseases they spread in Scientific American. Tick-borne illnesses are increasing in the US, and climate change is causing warmer temperatures and more humidity which make it easier for ticks to survive in northern climates. “If you live in an area with tick-borne diseases, and most people in the United States do, you should educate yourself about the times of year and the kinds of habitats that put you at risk,” Keesing says. Precautions can be taken to avoid tick bites when spending time outdoors: wearing long clothing, tucking pant legs inside socks, using a permethrin insecticide on clothes, and checking for ticks back at home. “None of [these preventative measures] makes being outside feel all that glamorous,” Keesing told Scientific American. “It takes away some of that sense of freedom that we feel, but I’ve been living in this area for decades now, and it just becomes part of your practice. It’s just what you do.”

Post Date: 06-21-2023