Prepare now for a tough tick season
Reports of ticks have already become common as people start enjoying the outdoors. Professionals are expecting an increase in ticks due to the mild winter and increasing deer and mice populations.
Ticks can carry a variety of diseases, Lyme being the most common. Other less common tickborne diseases include Babesiosis, Anaplasmosis, Ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Powassan Virus.
There are over 30 species of ticks found in New York State and 4 species can potentially transmit diseases to people. The Blacklegged Tick, also called the Deer Tick, is the most common and the one that can carry the most diseases.
Generally, a tick needs to be attached to a person and feeding for an extended period to transmit a disease. There are some diseases such as the Powassan virus that can be transmitted in as few as 15 minutes.
Not all ticks carry diseases, and symptoms can be generic or similar to other illnesses so it’s important for you to contact your provider to see if testing and treatment is necessary. Antibiotic treatment following a tick bite is not recommended to prevent most tick-borne diseases but may be appropriate in some circumstances.
The most important thing people can do is take precautions to prevent tick bites when outdoors. Ticks are most active in warmer months, from April to September. Ticks do not jump, fly or drop from trees, they are down in the grass and shrubs and crawl up until they find a good spot to attach. Some things people can do to prevent tick bites include:
- Avoid high grassy and wooded areas
- Stay in the center of trails when hiking
- Wear light-colored clothing and long pants and shirts
- Tuck your pants into your socks
- Use tick repellants with 20 to 30 percent DEET
- Use permethrin products on your clothing
- Treat pets with Vet recommended products
After you have been outdoors check everyone for ticks before they have time to attach. Check yourself and pets every time you come inside. Ticks like to hide so remember to check under the arms, in and around ears, behind knees, between legs, around the waist, inside belly button, under breasts and around the hairline and scalp.
- Use a lint roller or sticky tape to roll over clothing as soon as you’re done outdoors
- Bathe or shower as soon as possible after coming indoors
- Check pets and gear for ticks before bringing inside
- Put clothes in the dryer on high heat for at least 15 minutes to kill ticks
There are also things you can do to reduce ticks in your yard. Clear tall grasses and brush from around homes or at the edge of lawns and mow frequently. Place a barrier of wood chips or gravel between lawns and wooded areas to restrict tick migration into the lawn. Keep playground equipment and recreation areas away from yard edges and trees. Discourage animals and rodents from entering your yard with fences and keep your yard maintained to reduce places for rodents and ticks to hide. There are also treatments that can be sprayed on your yard. A simple way to check to see if ticks are in your yard is to use a white-colored sheet and slowly drag over ground and shrubs. Ticks will cling to the cloth and this gives you an idea if they are present in your yard.
Discourage animals and rodents from entering your yard with fences and keep your yard maintained to reduce places for rodents and ticks to hide. There are also treatments that can be sprayed on your yard. A simple way to check to see if ticks are in your yard is to use a white sheet and slowly drag over ground and shrubs. Ticks will cling to the cloth and this gives you an idea if they are present in your yard.
Following these steps will help keep you, your family and your pets safe from ticks this season. For more information on tickborne diseases and tick prevention, or if you have a group interested in a presentation, visit our website at www.healthymadisoncounty.org or call the Madison County Health Department at 366-2848.