The chances of getting a tick bite in New York City—especially in the densely populated urban core—are relatively low, but can be significant in some urban forests. In the summertime, when city residents scatter to areas where ticks and Lyme disease are prevalent, whether it’s the woods, a lakefront or on the grassy paths that lead to ocean beaches, the risk increases.
To better understand the effects of this exposure, Columbia researchers, led by disease ecologist Maria Diuk-Wasser, are heading to New York City and Western Long Island parks this month to measure the presence of ticks and enroll residents in a behavioral survey. The survey aims to better comprehend participants’ outdoor behavior and whether it puts them in close contact with ticks.
Read the full story on Columbia News.
