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VOLUME 27 ISSUE 14
Since 1989
NYC HEALTH DEPARTMENT LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN TO EDUCATE ABOUT TICK-BORNE INFECTIONS
Recommendations to Prevent TickBites and Tick-Borne Illness
As part of the de Blasio Administration’s Deer Impact Management Plan, the Health Department and Staten Island Borough President James S. Oddo launched a comprehensive tick-borne disease prevention campaign to remind New Yorkers to protect themselves against ticks and tick-borne diseases, such as Lyme disease. The campaign will run throughout June and will be seen on social media sites. Staten Island hospitals will be hosting grand rounds, a formal education session for physicians, residents, and medical students, on how to recognize, diagnose and treat tick-borne infections. The Health Department and the Staten Island Borough President’s Office will also schedule a community forum on tickborne diseases in the coming months. The Health Department has been conducting outreach targeting children using several educational tools including “All about Ticks,” a workbook for children and their parents. The workbook includes instructions on the proper removal of ticks using stuffed animal “Tick Check Harry,” which children can use to practice proper removal techniques. The administration’s Deer Impact Management Plan was announced last month and focuses on four main areas: a sterilization study, traffic safety measures, extensive public education, and natural resource protection. Joining Health Commissioner Bassett and Borough President James Oddo at Staten Island Borough Hall was Department of Parks and Recreation Chief of Education and Wildlife Sarah Grimké Aucoin. “With the increase in the deer population on Staten Island, it is more critical than ever for us to raise awareness of the dangers of ticks and how best to avoid Lyme disease,” said Borough President Oddo. “The Department of Health’s robust education campaign will do just that and I urge all Staten Islanders – especially those who enjoy spending time outdoors – to know the steps they can take to best protect themselves.” “With deer now present on Staten Island, the risk of tick-borne illness grows. Fortunately there are simple steps
• Check for ticks on your body or clothing after returning from wooded, brushy, or tall, grassy areas and remove any ticks you find on you, your child or your pet (see instructions below). Keep in mind that young ticks are very small (about the size of a poppy seed), so seek help to inspect not easily reachable areas. Be sure to look carefully in areas of the body where hair is present, since it may make it difficult to see the ticks. Adult ticks are about the size of an apple seed. • Remove ticks promptly. • Stay on cleared paths and hiking trails when walking in heavily wooded areas. • Wear light-colored clothing to allow you to better see ticks that crawl on your clothing.
“ While most New Yorkers acquire tick-borne infections outside the city, there is a risk of exposure on Staten Island and other wooded and tall grassy areas in the city.” — Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett
everyone can take to protect themselves,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP. “That’s why educational efforts like this social media campaign are central to our three-pronged Deer Impact Management Plan, which takes aggressive action on Staten Island to mitigate the impact of deer on public health, traffic safety, and natural resources.” “As residents of the Borough of Parks, Staten Islanders have the privilege of enjoying thousands of acres of parkland, however this abundant green space also brings the increased risk of tick-borne illness. This awareness campaign will serve to inform Islanders both young and old about how to protect themselves from ticks, and to make sure that tick borne illnesses are properly diagnosed and treated, potentially saving Islanders from devastating diseases including Lyme disease,” said Assemblyman Michael Cusick.
The Health Department does regular surveillance for tick-borne illnesses. On average, there are between 400 and 600 cases every year. Last year, there were 556 confirmed cases of Lyme disease in the city. In 2014, there were 567. A majority of these cases originated outside the city. Lyme disease is the most common tickborne infection in New York City, with symptoms including fever, headache, and a skin rash. If left untreated, infections can spread to the joints, heart and the nervous system. Lyme disease is transmitted by the bite of an infected blacklegged tick, but historically, these species have rarely been found in New York City. Enhanced tick surveillance will help define the range and density of this tick in Staten Island and the rest of NYC. Most patients in NYC become infected after traveling to surrounding areas, including Long Island and upstate New York.
• Apply repellents containing DEET to prevent ticks from attaching. Use according to manufacturer’s instructions. • Wear Permethrin-treated clothing. • Wear long-sleeved shirts and tuck your pant legs into your socks so that ticks cannot crawl up the inside of your pant legs. • Shower after being in an area with ticks, and promptly put clothes in a dryer to kill ticks. • Speak to your veterinarian about tick prevention products for your pet dogs and cats. • Remove leaf litter and debris to reduce the likelihood of ticks around the home. • If you get a rash or a fever, let the doctor know if you may have been exposed to ticks, even if you don’t remember having a tick bite. Ticks on people or pets should be removed promptly. Use tweezers or fingers to grasp them as close to the skin surface as possible, and pull up on the tick with slow, even pressure. Wash the area of a tick bite thoroughly with soap and water after the tick is removed to help reduce the likelihood of infection. Avoid squeezing or crushing the abdomen area. Using matches, petroleum jelly or other home remedies do not work to remove ticks.
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