BLOOMING GROVE TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- Ticks! They are out and about and causing some serious health problems.
"They are a threat to pets and to humans. that's been well established in the literature," said Harriet Loizeaux of Wayne Memorial Community Health.
Loizeaux is heading up the brand new Tick-Borne Disease Wellness Center inside Pike County's Family Health Center.
The new center opened Wednesday.
Medical Assistant Jenny Serrano said working at the new center is a labor of love for her.
"My son and myself both have had Lyme already so, you know you just worry about what could happen to others without the knowledge getting out there," she said.
The health center usually treats patients from Wayne and Pike counties, but since word got out about the new tick-borne disease center, people have been calling from all over the Keystone State and beyond: as far away as West Virginia and Arizona.
"There's a lot of people you don't realize until you bring up the subject that a lot of people have gone through it as well," said Serrano.
In Pennsylvania, the number of Lyme Disease cases is one of the highest in the nation.
Ticks carrying Lyme disease have been found in every county.
Lyme Disease is spread when an infected tick bites someone and, if left untreated, it can cause life-threatening complications.
"There are several different organisms other than Lyme. everyone focuses on Lyme, but there are other co-infections that occur that need to be treated rapidly to prevent long-term problems," said Loizeaux.
The center accepts most major forms of insurance.
Patients must be 18 or older.
For more information on how to make an appointment, call 570-775-7100.
