Ticks: Lyme Disease and Other Tick-Borne Diseases

   The Hyannis Public Library is pleased to again welcome Entymologist Larry Dapsis on Thursday, October 8, 2015 for his updated presentation  of “Ticks: Lyme Disease, and Other Tick-Borne Diseases.”  This program is free and open to the public.    Lyme Disease is the most prevalent infectious disease in Massachusetts and now considered to be a public health crisis.  In addition to Lyme, deer ticks carry the pathogens which cause Babesiosis and Anaplasmosis, two other tick-borne diseases that can be quite serious and are on the increase.   

This program will review the basic life cycle and ecology of deer ticks, incidence rates and distribution of tick-borne illnesses in addition to a database under development on infection rates of ticks. Tick-borne diseases are preventable, and a three-point protection plan will be presented:  “Protect Yourself, Protect Your Yard and Protect your Pet.”  The talk is free and open to the public.   

Larry Dapsis has thirty-four years of professional pest management experience including pests in the home and home gardens. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Biology at Fitchburg State University and his Masters of Science in Entomology at the University of Massachusetts – Amherst.  Mr. Dapsis joined The Cape Cod Cooperative Extension in 2011 as Deer Tick Project Coordinator and Entomologist and is a member of the Barnstable County Task Force on Lyme and other Tick-Borne Diseases.   

Tickborne diseases are on the rise so not miss this chance to learn how to keep you and your loved ones safe from harm.