UP NEXT ON "CYCLE OF HEALTH."

TONIGHT'S TOPIC: LYME DISEASE AND TICK-BORNE ILLNESSES.

Y THIS EPISODE, WE'LL EXPLORE TE SCIENCE BEHIND THESE ILLNESSES FROM THE LIFE CYCLE OF TICKS TO THE PATHOGENS THEY CARRY.

WE'LL EXAMINE THE TELL TALE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS AND PROVIDE YOU WITH THE TOOLS AND KNOWLEDGE NEEDED TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR LOVED ONES WHILE ENJOYING THE GREAT OUTDOORS.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> HELLO AND WELCOME TO CYCLE OF HEALTH, I'M DR. RICH O'NEILL.

TONIGHT'S TOPIC: LYME DISEASE AND TICK-BORNE ILLNESSES.

TONIGHT WE'LL UNCOVER THE INTRICATE SCIENCE BEHIND THESE ILLNESSES, FROM THE LIFE CYCLE OF TICKS TO THE BIOLOGY OF THE PATHOGENS THEY CARRY.

WE'LL EXAMINE THE TELLTALE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS, AND PROVIDE YOU WITH THE TOOLS AND KNOWLEDGE NEEDED TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR LOVED ONES WHILE ENJOYING THE GREAT OUTDOORS.

AND IF YOU ARE WONDERING WHY I'M DRESSED LIKE THIS TODAY, IT'S BECAUSE I APRIL ANTI-TICK RICK.

LET'S MEET OUR ANTI-TICK TEAM.

DR. BRIAN LEYDET, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF EPIDEMIOLOGY & DISEASE ECOLOGY AT SUNY ESF DR. KATIE ANDERSON, COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH, ONONDAGA COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT DR. SARAVANAN THANGAMANI, PROFESSOR OF MICROBIOLOGY AND IMMUNOLOGY AT SUNY UPSTATE AND DIRECTOR OF THE SUNY CENTER FOR VECTOR-BORNE DISEASES AND VECTOR BIOCONTAINMENT LABORATORIES THAT'S JUST ABOUT ALL THE TIME THAT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING OUT OF A MOVIE MUCH I I LOVE THAT.

TELL US ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT AND TICKS.

>> RICH, TICKS LIVE IN THE ENVIRONMENT, NOT IN PARKING LOTS BUT IN GROWN AREAS, GRASSY AREAS, WOODLAND AREAS.

IN THE ENVIRONMENT THEY LIVE IN THREE FREE LIVING STAGES, LARVAE, NYMPH AND ADULT.

AND DEPENDING ON WHAT TICK SPECIES AND WHAT STAGE, WE ARE INTERESTED IN, WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT PATHOGENS THEY CAN TRANSMIT.

FOR THE MAJORITY OF THIS TALK WITH LYME DISEASE WE ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE BLACK LEGGED TICK OR DEER TICK ESPECIALLY IN THE SIM FOE AND LARVAE STAGES THAT CAN TRANSIT THE PATHOGENS TO HUMANS.

>> WE'LL TALK ABOUT SOME OF THOSE LATER.

Dr. ANDERSON, TELL US ABOUT LYME DISEASE.

WHAT IS IT, ET CETERA.

>> LYME DISEASE IS A DISEASE THAT IS SPREAD BY BACTERIA, SPREAD BY TICKS, WHICH IS A SPIRAL SHAPED BACTERIUM.

WHEN A PERSON IS BIT BY A TICK, THIS PARTICULAR BLACK LEGGED TICK IN TICIAL, IT IS SPREAD TO THE HUMAN BY 15 VY-- SALIVA AND TAKES A WHILE TO BE TRANSMITTED.

THEY ATTACH FOR 24 HOURS OR SO AND YOU ARE AT RISK OF LYME DISEASE.

AFTER THAT, IT CAN BE AN EXTENDED PERIOD WHERE PEOPLE EXPERIENCE DIFFERENT DISEASE DUE TO LYME DISEASE.

THERE IS THE EARLY STAGE WHERE ABOUT 7 DAYS AFTER YOU GET THE FIRST BITE ANYWHERE FROM THREE TO 30, YOU MAY GET A RASH.

PEOPLE HAVE HEARD OF THAT RASH, THE CLASSIC BULL'S EYE RASH.

WHICH, ABOUT 80% OF PEOPLE MAY GET.

>> NOT EVERYBODY GETS THE BULL'S EYE?

>> NOT EVERYBODY GETS IT.

25% OF PEOPLE WHO GET THE BULL'S EYE RASH REMEMBER BEING BITTEN BY A TICK.

MOST DO NOT.

IT MAY BE THE FIRST SIGN YOU HAVE BEEN EXPOSED.

IF YOU ARE TREATED AT THAT STAGE, YOU CAN PREVENT WHAT CAN HAPPEN AFTERWARDS AND IT CAN BE QUITE SERIOUS.

IF YOU ARE NOT TREATED, WEEKS TO MONTHS LATER YOU COULD END UP WITH NEUROLOGICAL SYMPTOMS OF LYME DISEASE.

BELL'S PALSIY OR FACIAL DROOP.

MENINGITIS OR INFECTION OF THE BRAIN.

AND IT CAN AFFECT YOUR HEART IN WHICH PEOPLE WOULD NEED TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL TO BE TREATED FOR POSSIBLE ARRHYTHMIAS.

FINALLY IF THEY'RE NOT TREATED AT THAT STAGE, THEY CAN GO ON TO LATE LYME DISEASE, ARTHRITIS AND ONGOING SYMPTOMS THAT MAY START MONTHS TO YEARS AFTER FIRST EXPOSURE.

>> THIS IS SOMETHING TO TAKE REALLY SERIOUSLY.

>> AND IF YOU TREAT IT EARLY, YOU CAN TRY TO PREVENT ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

>> GET TO YOUR DOCTOR'S OFFICE DOCTOR, YOUR LAB LOOKS AT WHERE THE TICKS ARE IN THE ENVIRONMENT.

WHAT HAVE YOU FOUND OUT ABOUT THAT?

>> ONE PART OF THE TICK CARRY ONE TICK BORN AGENT PREDOMINANTLY LYME DISEASE AGENT, BORRELIA.

IT CAN RANGE FROM 40 TO 50% OF THE TICKS CAN CARRY THE LYME DISEASE AGENT.

IN ADDITION TO THE LYME DISEASE AGENT, TICKS TRANSMIT MULTIPLE OTHER PATHOGENS, INCLUDING A SINGLE TICK CAN TRANSMIT MULTIPLE AGENTS FROM A SINGLE BITE AS WELL.

>> WHEN YOU SAY MULTIPLE AGENTS, BAD THINGS.

THESE ARE DISEASES THAT CARRY MULTIPLE THINGS WE AUTO TALK ABOUT TREATMENT OF THESE THINGS LATER ON.

I WAS MAYBE FIVE OR SIX OR SEVEN YEARS AGO, WE DID A STORY ON LYME DISEASE ON THIS SHOI.

AND SOMEBODY FROM THE CORNELL COOPERATIVE EXTENSION CAME TO MY BACKYARD AND DID WHAT THEY CALL A TICK DRAG, WHICH I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE THE SAME KIND OF-- THEY TOOK THIS KIND OF FLANNEL CLOTH AND DRAGGED IT THROUGH THE BUSHES IN MY BACKYARD.

ONE DRAG, I THINK IT WAS 75 FEET, AND THEN THEY FOUND 20 TICKS ON THAT SHEET OF PAPER.

IT WAS SO SMALL, YOU HAD TO USE A MICROPHONE-- A MAGNIFYING GLASS TO SEE THEM.

AND, BUT... AND THEN THEY WERE LIKE CRAWLING ALL OVER THERE.

SO A THIRD TO A HALF OF THOSE HAVE LYME DISEASE AGENTS.

>> AND OTHER THINGS POTENTIALLY.

THAT WAS IT FOR ME.

I HAD ALREADY, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHY I'M WEARING THESE CLOTHES.

THIS IS WHAT-- I NEVER GO OUT IN THE WEEDS IN MIAMI BACKYARD ANYMORE.

I WALK ON THE GRASS.

BUT I DON'T GO IN THE WEEDS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT AND I ALSO USE THIS SPRAY.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN SEE MY SHOES.

I HAVE SPECIAL-- I'M A RUNNER-- I WAS A RUNNER UNTIL RECENTLY.

AND THIS IS LABELED TICK SHOES BECAUSE I SPRAY THESE WITH THIS SPRAY WHICH IS ACTUALLY KILLS TICKS AND THEY DON'T LIKE IT.

AND THESE CLOTHES ARE INFUSED WITH THIS AGENT AND THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO LAST THROUGH 75 WASHINGS.

YOU CAN HAVE THESE AND NOT WORRY ABOUT TICKS.

WHEN I GO OUT IN THE WOODS, THIS IS WHAT I WEAR TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE TELL US ABOUT OTHER DISEASE THAT TICKS CARRY?

>> IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WE FOCUS ON THE DEER TICK THAT FOCUS LYME DISEASE ACT, AN AGENT OF BABESIOSIS AND DOG TICKS, LON STAR TICKS THAT CAUSE BACTERIAL DISEASE AS WELL.

>> THE LONE STAR TICK, IS THAT THE ONE I READ IN THE PAPER RECENTLY THAT CAUSES RED MEAT ALLERGY?

>> EXACTLY.

>> SO IS THERE ANY TREATMENT FOR THAT?

>> THERE IS NOT.

THAT'S ALL ALPHA GAL SYNDROME AND SIGHTS ON THE RISE BECAUSE I THINK THE TICK IS ON THE RISE LOCALLY AS WELL.

WE ARE SEEING MORE AND MORE PEOPLE WHO DEVELOP THIS ALLERGIC TYPE RESPONSE TO THE SALIVA WHICH STOPS THEM BEING ABLE TO EAT RED MEAT WITHOUT HAVING AN ALLERGIC REACTION, WHICH SOUNDS HORRIBLE.

>> I DON'T EAT RED MEAT ANYWAY BUT FOR PEOPLE WHO DO... >> THE INFORMATION I HAVE ON THAT IS THE LONE STAR TICKS ARE CURRENTLY PRESENT IN THE LONG ISLAND SUFFOLK COUNTY AREA BUT BASED ON OUR SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM, WE HAVE FOUND THIS TICK IS SLOWLY EMERGING IN CENTRAL NEW YORK WHICH MEANS THAT SLOWLY IN THE NEXT THREE TO FIVE YEARS, WE MIGHT BE SEEING MORE LONE STAR TICKS IN OUR NECK OF THE WOODS AS WELL.

>> SO WE HAVE TO BE WORRIED ABOUT ALL OF THOSE THINGS SO YOU ARE TAYEING DOXYCYCLINE?

>> THAT'S THE STANDARD TREATMENT FOR THE EARLY STAGE WHEN YOU GET THE RASH, THE BULL'S EYE RASH AS WELL AS FOR THE EARLIER STAGES.

IF YOU END UP MULTIPLE RASHES, OR THE NEUROLOGICAL MANIFESTATIONS, DOXYCYCLINE IS THE MAIN TREATMENT AND THANKFULLY IT IS THE MAIN TREATMENT FOR ANOTHER BACTERIUM THAT OFTEN GOES ALONG WITH LYME DISEASE IN TICKS CALLED ANAPLASMOSIS.

BUT IT CAN HAVE SIDE EFFECTS WHICH IS WHY WE DON'T GIVE IT OUT TO EVERYONE WHO FINDS A TICK ON THEMSELVES.

>> SO IF YOU CAN, YOU WANT TO PREVENT GETTING A BITE, A TICK BITE.

>> THAT IS THE KEY HERE, RIGHT.

PREVENTION IS PERFECT THIS IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO.

>> NOBODY HAS EVER SAID I'M PERFECT BEFORE.

LET'S WRITE THIS DOWN!

>> YOU WOULD RATHER NOT GET BIT AND DEAL WITH THE DIAGNOSIS, THE TREATMENT AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE, IN CENTRAL NEW YORK, WE HAVE REALLY SEEN AN INCREASE IN THE TICKS OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS, THE BLACK LEGGED TICK.

WE HAVE SEEN THE NUMBERS BOOST UP AND WITH THAT COMES THE DISEASE, BUILDING OFF WHAT SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT, THE NEXT TICK COMING THROUGH IS THE LONE STAR TICK.

IT HAS HAPPENED HERE BEFORE, IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN.

WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

INDIVIDUALLY YOU CAN DO PROTECTION LIKE YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT.

ANTI-TICK PROTECTION.

BUT WE ALSO NEED TO THINK ABOUT WHAT IN THE ENVIRONMENT IS FACILITATING THESE INCREASES NUMBERS AND THAT'S WHERE RESEARCH IS DIGGING INTO THE CAUSES.

WHAT MAKES A TICK RESILIENT OR A TICK SUSCEPTIBLE LANDSCAPE?

>> SO YOU GO OUT IN THE WOODS QUITE A BIT, I UNDERSTAND, WITH YOUR TICK DRAGGER THERE TO EXAMINE WHERE THEY ARE.

I KNOW YOU CARRY WHEREVER YOU GO, YOU CARRY YOUR... >> WHAT I LIKE TO TALK ABOUT RICH HERE IS I LIKE TO THINK ABOUT LYME DISEASE AS AN EQUATION.

AND IF YOU TAKE ONE PIECE OF THE EQUATION OUT, WHEN I GO IN THE FIELD, I CAN'T TAKE TICKS OUT OF THE FIELD.

IT'S REALLY HARD TO REMOVE THE TICK BUT CAN I REMOVE MYSELF FROM THE EQUATION BY DRESSING UP LIKE YOU IMPENETRABLE WALL.

>> DO YOU WEAR ANTI-TICK CLOTHES?

>> I WEAR A FULL WHITE DENIM SUIT TAPED TO BOOTS.

EVEN THE POCKETS ARE SEWED.

THE TICK WOULD HAVE TRO CRAWL UP A WHITE SUIT AND IN THROUGH MY COLLAR AND I'M GOING TO NOTICE THAT TICK.

>> WHY DIDN'T UP WEAR THAT TODAY?

I WANT TO KNOW!

YOU DIDN'T TELL ME ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE BEEN ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL ON THIS SHOW.

>> I WAS TOLD BUSINESS CASUAL.

>> THAT IS BUSINESS CASUAL, IN OUR... [LAUGHTER] NEXT SHOW YOU HAVE TO WEAR THAT.

>> I'LL DO IT.

IT GETS HOT IN THE DENIM.

>> I BET.

MAY I SEE THAT?

I DON'T WANT TO TOUCH IT BUT THAT'S LIKE YIKES.

LOOK AT THAT.

THIS ONE AT THE BOTTOM IS THE ENGORGED FEMALE.

>> THAT'S OBVIOUS.

WILL YOU FIND THOSE.

THAT'S THE SIZE OF A SMALL GRAPE, RIGHT.

BUT IT'S THE UNFED ONES THAT ARE REALLY HARD TO SEE, AND THE NYMPHS CAN BE AS SMALL AS A POPPY SEED.

>> WHEN THEY CAME TO MY HOUSE, THEY WERE SO TINY, UNBELIEVABLE.

I LOOK FOR MOVEMENT.

WHEN THEY'RE CLIMBING UP YOUR LIGHT COLORED CLOTHES, YOU CAN SEE SOMETHING MOVING.

BRAMBLES, LITTLE PIECE OF DIRT WON'T MOVE.

A TICK IS CRAWLING UP TRYING TO FIND A PLACE TO BITE YOU.

>> AND I TOUCHED IT ENOUGH.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

SO IT'S CRAWLING AND HOW LONG-- YOU WERE SAYING, KATIE, THAT THEY NEED TO BE ON YOU FOR A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE THEY-- IS THAT TRUE FOR ALL LIKE THE NYMPH AND-- DOES THE NYMPH GET BIGGER, TOO WHEN IT ENGORGES?

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

>> EXACTLY.

LARVAE TAKE THREE TO FIVE DAYS TO FEED ON A HUMAN OR MAMMAL TO GET ENGORGED.

NYMPHS THREE TO FIVE DAYS AND ADULTS COULD BE FIVE TO SEVEN DAYS TO STAY ATTACHED ON A HUMAN OR ANY MAMMAL TO GET ENGORGED.

FOR YOUR QUESTION, TO ANSWER, LYME DISEASE AGENTS NEED TO STAY ATTACHED TO A HUMAN FOR AT LEAST 24 HOURS BEFORE THE BACK TERIUM CAN BE TRANSMITTED TO THE SKIN OF THE HUMAN.

HOWEVER, FOR THE REST OF THE AGENTS LIKE VIRUSES THEY CAN BE DELIVERED TO THE SKIN WITHIN THE FIRST SIX HOURS.

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO WEAR WHAT YOU ARE WEARING TO HAVE AN IMPENETRABLE WALL FOR THE TICKS AND DO TICK CHECKING AS WELL.

>> SO TICK CHECKS.

THAT IS, YOU ECONOMIC YOUR WHOLE BODY-- YOU CHECK YOUR WHOLE BODY BUT PARTICULARLY WARM SPOTS BECAUSE THEY HEAD TO LIKE YOUR GROIN AND ARM PIT, IS THAT RIGHT?

YOU ARE NODDING, KATIE, IS THAT ACCURATE?

>> THAT IS ACCURATE AND HE HAS DATA FROM TICKS SENT IN WHERE THEY CAN MAP.

>> SO WE ARE DOING SURVEILLANCE WHERE PEOPLE SEND THE TICKS TO MY LAB FOR TESTING THAT THEY ENCOUNTER.

SO IN ADDITION TO GETTING THE TICKS THEY PROVIDE US INFORMATION WHERE THEY ACTUALLY PICKED THE TICKS FROM.

WHERE THEY FOUND THE TICKS FROM.

WE COLLECTED THE DATA AND DID A STATISTICAL ANALYSIS TO COME UP WITH AN IDEA WHERE EXACTLY TICKS PREFER TO ATTACH ON A HUMAN BODY.

AND SO WE GOT A GOOD IDEA NOW THAT THE TICKS LIKE TO STAY ATTACHED TO THE WASTE OR GROIN AREA, THE DEER TICKS, THE DOG TICKS AND LONE STAR TICKS PREFER TO ATTACH AROUND THE NECK AND HEAD AREA PREDOMINANTLY.

>> IF YOU ARE IN A RUSH, YOU WANT TO CHECK YOUR NECK, WAIST AND GROIN.

YOU MIGHT GET AWAY WITH THAT.

SO WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING, SO FOR THE EARLY PART, THE NYMPH, IS IT BIGGER THAN THAT LITTLE THING IN THERE WHEN IT'S FINISHED EATING?

>> NOT WHEN IT'S EARLY.

YOU DON'T WANT TO BE DETECTING THE TICK AT THAT POINT.

YOU WANT TO DETECT THE TICK WHEN IT'S THE SIZE OF A POPPY SEED.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO DO VIGILANT CHECKS.

SOME OF US HAVE FRECKLES.

KNOW WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE THERE AND WHAT IS NOT.

THEY LOOK A LITTLE TEAR DROP AND HAVE EIGHT LITTLE LEGS.

THEY WILL BE MOVING.

AND IF YOU LOOK CLOSE ENOUGH, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO SPOT THOSE EARLY ENOUGH.

>> WEARING WHAT YOU ARE WEARING WITH YOUR PANTS TUCKED INTO YOUR SOCKS.

IT WILL TAKE A WHILE BEFORE ANY TICK CAN GET TO YOUR SKIN.

IT'S GOING TO BE CRAWLING UP.

SO THE RECOMMENDATION IS IF PEOPLE ARE OUTSIDE AND MOST OF CENTRAL NEW YORK IS WHERE YOU CAN FIND DEER TICKS UNLESS YOU ARE IN A PARKING LOT.

YOU GO HOME AND TAKE OFF YOUR CLOTHES AND PUT THEM IN THE DRYER FOR 10 MINUTES HOT HIGH HEAT BECAUSE THAT WILL KILL THE TICKS.

IF YOU CAN TAKE A SHOWER, THAT WILL HELP WASH THEM OFF BEFORE THEY ATTACH.

EVEN IF YOU CAN'T FIND THEM AND YOU SHOULD LOOK FOR THEM, YOU CAN DO THINGS TO MAKE SURE THEY DON'T MAKE IT TO THE SKIN IN THE FIRST PLACE.

>> THAT'S REASSURING.

WHAT ABOUT VACCINES?

I REMEMBER YEARS AGO THERE USED TO BE A VACCINE IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY AND THEY TOOK IT OFF THE MARKET BECAUSE THEY GOT TOO MANY SUITS, RIGHT?

PEOPLE WERE SAYING I GOT ARTHRITIS FROM THIS VACCINE.

IS THAT ACCURATE?

>> I'M NOT SURE OF THE HISTORY OF THAT.

>> THAT'S NOT 100% ACCURATE.

THERE IS A LOT OF MISLEADING INFORMATION ABOUT THAT WE STILL DON'T KNOW THE REAL REASON.

I THINK THE PRIMARY REASON, I THINK THE COMPANY THAT WAS PRODUCING THE VACCINE GOT SUED SO THEY DECIDED TO PULL OUT FROM THE MARKET.

BUT RIGHT NOW THERE IS A NEW VACCINE THAT IS BEING DEVELOPED BY PFIZER IN THE PHASE 3 CLINICAL TRIALS.

FROM WHAT I READ THE SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE, IT'S VERY PROMISING WHICH MEANS IN THE NEXT THREE TO FIVE YEARS, WE PROBABLY WILL HAVE A VACCINE AGAINST LYME DISEASE.

>> I'M GOING TO PUT MY CAMPING GEAR AWAY FOR THREE TO FIVE, RIGHT?

WHAT IS STAGE 3 THOUGH CLINICAL TRIALS?

>> I WOULD LET... >> SO STAGE THREE CLINICAL TRIAL MEANS IT HAS GONE THROUGH THE PRECEDING TESTS, NEEDS TO BE SHOWN IT'S SAFE, YOU NEED TO SHOW IT GENERATES AN IMMUNE RESPONSE SO IT SEEMS LIKE IT SHOULD PROTECT AND THEN YOU MOVE INTO TRIALS WITH TYPICALLY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHERE YOU TRY TO SHOW THAT IT WORKS.

AND THAT'S THE SEMINAL STUDY.

AFTER THAT HAS PASSED, IF THE VACCINE LOOKS GOOD, THEN IT TYPICALLY WOULD GO FORWARD TO LICENSURE AND PEOPLE CAN GET IT.

>> AND YOU ARE READING THE RESEARCH ON THIS.

ARE THEY FINDING ANY SIDE EFFECTS FROM THIS VACCINE?

>> SO FAR NONE.

>> CAN I GET IN THE TRIAL?

GH A COLLEAGUE IS RUNNING IT UPSTATE.

>> PUT MY NAME ON THE LIST.

>> IC SIGN UP AS A VOLUNTEER FOR THE VACCINE.

>> WHAT IS INTEREST CAN ABOUT IT, WHEN THE VACCINE FIRST HAD THE BAD PRESS, IT HAD A PROTEIN IN THE VACCINE THAT THEY THOUGHT WAS CROSS REACTIVE.

AND BASICALLY THE NEW GROUP JUST REMOVED AND CUT THE PROTEIN OFF SO THERE IS NO POTENTIAL OR THEORETICAL CROSS ACTIVITY IN HUMANS TO CAUSE THIS ARTHRITIC LIKE SYMPTOMS.

THIS NEW VACCINE IS LOOKING VERY PROMISING BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT IT'S ONLY FOR LYME DISEASE AND THERE ARE OTHER PATHOGENS THAT ARE OUT THERE.

SO IF YOU GET THE VACCINE, YOU CAN'T BE LIKE WILLIE NILLY.

YOU STILL NEED TO BE REPRESENT THAT YOU ARE OUT THERE AND THAT THERE ARE TICKS AND OTHER PATHOGENS THAT THEY CAN TRANSMIT TO YOU.

>> I KNOW PETS ARE IMPORTANT BECAUSE PEOPLE OFTEN TAKE THEIR DOGS OUT CAMPING AND WHAT ABOUT THAT, DO TICKS ATTACH TO YOUR PETS?

>> I CONSIDER PETS ARE TICK MAGNETS.

WHEN WE WALK IN THE WOODS, WE ALLOW OUR PETS TO WANDER OFORLEA THE TRAILS.

>> THEY RUN THROUGH THE WEEDS ALL THE TIME.

>> WHEN THEY COME BACK, THEY COME BACK WITH THE TICK.

WE HAVE TRO DO A TICK CHECK ON THE PETS AS WELL AND CHECK THE PETS FOR TICK PREVENTION OR COLLARS OR CHEMICALS OR MEDICATIONS.

>> I HAVE SEEN ANTI-TICK COLLARS.

YOU CAN HAVE COLLARS, MEDICATIONS.

VETERINARY PRESCRIBE MET INDICATIONS-- MEDICATIONS THAT PREVENT THE TICK ATTACHMENT.

I ALWAYS TELL THAT PETS ARE TICK MAGNETS.

>> THEY'RE USEFUL IN THE SENSE THAT IN I SEENS, WE CAN GO INTO AREAS WHERE TICKS ARE NOT WELL ESTABLISHED AND THE FIRST ANIMAL WE WILL START SEEING THEM ON ARE DOGS GOING OUT.

PEOPLE WILL START REPORTING MY DOG HAS THESE TICKS.

IT'S LIKE OH NO, IT'S LIKE AN AMPLIFICATION.

THEN YOU CAN INVESTIGATE AND HOW ARE WE GOING TO SLOW THEM FROM ESTABLISHING.

>> I DIDN'T QUITE HEAR WHAT YOU SAID.

CAN YOU TREAT YOUR PET IF THEY GET LYME DISEASE?

>> THERE ARE MEDICATION ARE AVAILABLE YOU CAN GIVE IT TO PETS PARTICULARLY DOGS AND CATS THAT WILL PREVENT THE TICKS FROM ATTACHING TO THE PETS.

>> IT'S PREVENTION.

SO YOU ARE NOT BRINGING THEM BACK HOME.

SO WHAT HAPPENS IS PETS GO OUT.

THEY COME BACK HOME.

AND OFTEN THEY SLEEP IN THE BED WITH A HUMAN.

>> AND THEY CRAWL OVER ON YOU.

>> AND IN THE NIGHT THEY DRAWL OUT FROM THE PET AND GO TO THE HUMAN.

SO THAT'S WHY IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO DO THE TICK CHECK ON THE PETS AS WELL AS WELL AS ON THE HUMANS.

>> ONE MINUTE ANY LAST WORDS FROM ANYBODY?

THAT YOU FEEL LIKE HAVE YOU TO SAY THIS BEFORE WE STOP?

>> I HAVE ONE BIT OF ADVICE BECAUSE I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WHAT THEY NEED TO DO IF THEY FIND A TICK OR IF THEY SEE THE RASH.

WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, PEOPLE WOULD HAVE ALL THESE OLD WIVES TICKS, BURN THEM WITH A MATCH, NAIL POLISH.

YOU DON'T DO ANY OF THAT.

IF YOU FIND A TICK ON YOU, YOU TAKE A FINE TWEEZERS AND YOU GO RIGHT DOWN WHERE THE HEAD GOES INTO THE SKIN AND PULL UP AND DISPOSE OF IT SAFELY.

IF THE TICK IS NOT ENGORGED YOU DID NOT NEED TREATMENT IF IT HAS BEEN 24 HOURS.

BUT WHEN YOU SEE A RASH, OR IF YOU SEE THAT THE TICK IS ENGORGED MEANING THERE IS BLOOD IN IT OR YOU ARE PRETTY SURE WHEN YOU WERE EXPOSED WAS MORE THAN 24 HOURS, YOU NEED TO CALL YOUR DOCTOR BECAUSE YOU NEED TREATMENT.

>> AND CAN YOU SAVE IT?

I UNDERSTAND PEOPLE SEND THEIR TICKS TO YOU TO SEE IF IT'S INFECTED.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY THROWING IT OUT, THEY SHOULD SEND TO A TICK TESTING LAB LIKE MY LAB TO KNOW THE RISK OF THE TICK LIKE IF IT CARRIES ANYTHING ON ARE NOT.

SO TO GIVE THEM PEACE OF MIND OR GO TO THE CLINICIAN TO GET EXPEDITED HEALTHCARE SOLUTIONS.

>> TERRIFIC.

I HATE TO SAY IT, THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE.

I WANT TO THANK OUR GUESTS DR. BRIAN LEYDET, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF EPIDEMIOLOGY & DISEASE ECOLOGY AT SUNY ESF DR. KATIE ANDERSON, COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH, ONONDAGA COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT DR. SARAVANAN THANGAMANI, PROFESSOR OF MICROBIOLOGY AND IMMUNOLOGY AT SUNY UPSTATE AND DIRECTOR OF THE SUNY CENTER FOR VECTOR-BORNE DISEASES AND VECTOR BIOCONTAINMENT LABORATORIES NOW, LET'S STEP BACK FOR A BRIEF MOMENT OF HUMOR.

LAUGHTER NOT ONLY LIFTS OUR SPIRITS BUT ALSO BRINGS ALONG SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN HEALTH BENEFITS WHERE DO BUGS GET AFTER THE TRAIN?

>> I DON'T KNOW, RICH.

>> AT THE INFESTATION.

AND KATIE, WHAT DO YOU CALL A RABBIT WITH FLEAS?

>> I DON'T KNOW, RICH.

>> BUGS BUNNY.

AND FINALLY, SARAH, WHAT DO YOU CALL A BUG THAT HESITATES BEFORE BITING SOMEONE?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

>> A NERVOUS TICK.

[LAUGHTER] WELL, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT A JOKE TO BE SHARED DURING OUR LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE SEGMENT OR TO SEE MORE OF OUR PROGRAM, VISIT WCNY.ORG/CYCLEOFHEALTH.

TO HEAR OUR NEW COMPANION COMMUNITY FM RADIO SHOW, CHECK UP FROM THE NECK UP, VISIT WCNY.ORG/COMMUNITYFM FOR 'CYCLE OF HEALTH,' I'M PSYCHOLOGIST DR. RICH O'NEILL.

ENJOY THIS WEEK'S MINI CHECK UP FROM THE NECK UP COMING UP RIGHT NOW.

THANKS FOR CHECKING IN.

♪ ♪ >> HI.

I'M PSYCHOLOGIST Dr. RICH O'NEILL WITH THIS WEEK'S CHECK UP FROM OUR NECK UP.

HEALING THE GREAT DIVIDE AND THANK YOU, SWEETY.

WELL, FOLKS, ON A LONG TRAIN RIDE, EAR BUDS IN FOR MOZART AND LOUIS ARMSTRONG.

NOW I USUALLY IGNORE TRIP ELBOW BUMPERS TO DO PAPERWORK.

BUT THE ELEGANTLY DRESSED, ELDERLY AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN ACROSS THE AISLE AND I PEEK ACROSS, NOD, HOW ARE YA.

GOOD, THANK YOU.

SHE'S WARM, ENGAGING.

QUOTES THE NEWSPAPER PUNDITS ELOQUENT, 79.

LESS EDUCATED PARENTS WHO LAUNCHED HER TO COLLEGE BECAME A PROFESSOR NO LESS JUST LIKE ME.

RETURNING FROM HER HUSBAND'S GRAVE IN ARLINGTON NATIONAL, WHICH MAKES US BOTH TEARY.

AND THE GRANDDAUGHTER OF SLAVES.

WHOA!

THE CONTRAST BETWEEN THIS GRACEFUL, ACCOMPLISHED WOMAN AND HER GRANDMA AND GRANDPA, UNDER THE LASH OF SLAVERY.

JUST THEN A LITTLE SIX OR SEVEN-YEAR-OLD AFRICAN-AMERICAN BOY RUNS UP THE AISLE, SEES US LEANING AND CHATTING, TAPS THE SNEAKER BRAKES AND DUCKS BELOW OUR LINE OF SIGHT.

AS HE BLURS BY, SHE SAYS LOVINGLY, THANK YOU, SWEETY.

FIVE MINUTES LATER, HE BOOMERANGS BACK WITH HIS SNACK AND DUCKS AGAIN.

THANK YOU, SWEETY.

SWEETNESS, TO BUFFER HIM FROM THE RACISM STILL POISONING OUR AIR.

YES, EXACTLY RIGHT.

YOUNG, OLD, BLACK, WHITE.

LET'S CHAT WITH OUR NEIGHBORS AND MEET KINDNESS WITH KINDNESS TO HEAL THE GREAT DIVIDE.

I'M Dr.

NECK UP RICH O'NEILL.

THANKS FOR CHECKING IN.

NEXT WEEK ON "CYCLE OF HEALTH..." >> TONIGHT'S TOPIC, A NEW PATH TO WELLNESS.

WE DIVE INTO THE WORLD OF HOLISTIC WELLNESS AND INTRODUCE AN EXCITING NEW INSTITUTE WITH INTEGRATED CARE FRONT AND CENTER.

WE ARE JOINED BY MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS LEADING THE CHARGE TO DISCUSS HOW INTEGRATED CARE CAN TRANSFORM OUR LIVES.