Tick-borne diseases on the rise: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure

Currently employed serologic tests can be inaccurate or hard to interpret, especially during early infection, and they can have difficulty distinguishing acute from past infection. [...]most of these tests cannot detect multiple TBD agents simultaneously. The best way to prevent tick bites when entering tick-infested areas during peak levels of host-seeking activity is through using a two-tiered strategy that includes applying a topical Environmental Protection Agency-registered insect repellent (e.g., 20-30% DEET, Picaridin or IR3535) to exposed skin and wearing light-colored, long-sleeved shirts, long pants, socks, shoes, hats and gear that have been treated with permethrin, which repels and kills ticks and provides long-lasting protection when applied correctly (8 ,15). Section 2062 authorized the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to establish a federal advisory committee to review research efforts and highlight TBD-related priorities. In response, the Tick-Borne Disease Working Group (TBDWG) was formed in 2017 and tasked with reviewing federally funded research of TBDs and identifying research gaps, along with submitting a report on its findings to Congress every 2 years (20).The TBDWG 2018 report outlined an integrated, multipronged approach to the public health challenge posed by TBDs (20).