Forest fragmentation may increase Lyme disease risk.

0 Comments | M2 Presswire, March, 2003

M2 PRESSWIRE-28 March 2003-US NSF: Forest fragmentation may increase Lyme disease risk(C)1994-2003 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD RDATE:03272003 Arlington, Va. -- Patchy woods-common in cities and suburbia, and even in rural areas-may have more Lyme disease-carrying ticks, which could increase risk of the disease in these forest remnants, scientists have found.

While forest fragments generally have fewer species than continuous habitat does, some species actually fare better in small patches, according to biologist Felicia Keesing of Bard College in Annandale, NY, and her colleagues. Lyme disease incidence is rising in the United States, and is in fact far more common than West Nile fever and other insect-borne diseases. Forest fragmentation could explain the...