The CDC recently reported that Wisconsin is the fourth-worst state in the U.S. for Lyme disease. Learn more about ticks and tickborne infections on today’s segment. Host Patty Peltekos talks with investigative reporter and author Mary Beth Pfeiffer about her new book, Lyme: The First Epidemic of Climate Change. They discuss the rising tick population in northern regions, connections between ticks and the military, combating common misconceptions about Lyme disease, and the widespread problem of women’s symptoms being ignored or brushed aside. “This [disease] has been dismissed for far too long,” Pfeiffer says. “It’s time to take it seriously.” Stay tuned through the end of the episode for some practical tips about effective repellents and the importance of increased awareness and advocacy around this public health concern.
The article Patty mentions in the show about Lyme disease as a feminist issue is “Memoirs of Disease and Disbelief” by Lidija Haas, published in The New Yorker in June 2018 and available to read online here.
