Since these infected ticks often hitchhike, feed, and mate on deer and since more people are settling in rural areas where deer are thriving, it is no wonder that the incidence of Lyme disease has been rising.
Kuna nakatunud puugid tihtipeale rändavad, toituvad ja paarituvad hirvlaste seljas ning kuna üha rohkem inimesi elab maapiirkondades, kus leidub arvukalt hirvlasi, siis pole ime, et Lyme’i tõbe esineb järjest sagedamini.