Ticks are the backyard threat southwestern Pennsylvania homeowners keep ignoring

A University of Pittsburgh researcher is studying why Pennsylvania residents who regularly encounter ticks still underestimate their risk of Lyme disease.

By: Danielle Tufts, University of Pittsburgh and Emily Bache, University of Pittsburgh, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: March 31, 2026

Words: 1,100

Last Updated: 4 months ago

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By Danielle Tufts, University of Pittsburgh and Emily Bache, University of Pittsburgh

As spring unfolds, new research highlights an issue for southwestern Pennsylvania residents: Most people know ticks are in their backyard, but few believe they’re actually at risk of contracting tick-borne illnesses.

Every year in the United States, an estimated 500,000 people are diagnosed with Lyme disease. The illness, caused by a bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi, is transmitted to humans through the …

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