Virbac Web site to forecast tick season onset, severity

A new Web site from Virbac forecasts infestation levels of three tick species by specific geography.The new Web site www.tickalert.com uses ZIP codes to create localized forecasts of the timing and level of infestation by deer ticks, lone star ticks and the American dog tick. These ticks are known to transmit diseases such as Lyme disease, Ehrlichiosis and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever to pets and humans. Pet owners simply log on to the site, enter information about their pets and their home ZIP codes, or the ZIP of a region where they will be traveling with their animals, and a localized forecast appears. The TickAlert.com site is designed to give concerned pet owners the best possible information about the onset of the tick season and expected level of infestation, explains Tom Mitchell, Virbac marketing manager. We know it can be difficult to get accurate, current information on ticks, and that in many areas ticks pose a significant health risk to pets and humans, so we are pleased to offer this new tool as a public service. The tick forecasts and supporting data were developed by Professor Agustn Estrada-Pea, DVM, Department of Parasitology in Zaragoza, Spain, and Dr. Steven A. Levy, VMD, Durham Veterinary Hospital, PC, Durham, Conn. Estrada and Levy are advisers to Virbac Corp., manufacturer and marketer of Preventic Plus and other animal care products. TickAlert.com also provides detailed information about ticks, the diseases they can cause and dangers to animals and humans. The Web site includes in-depth text as well as color photos that can help identify tick species and symptoms of diseases they carry, such as Lyme disease. Tips for preventing tick-borne diseases in pets and their owners also are presented on the site. Every area of the country has its own ticks, and these ticks all have the potential to transmit harmful diseases, Levy says.Whether it s Lyme disease, Ehrlichiosis or Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, owners need to protect their pets for at least several months, to as long as all year, depending on where they live. It takes just one tick to cause significant health problems both for animals and the people who care for them, Levy notes. This is a good time for all of us to have clear, concise information about how to prevent tick bites and what action to take if they do occur, he adds.

For fastest response call or visit the Web site at www.tickalert.com.