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espite seemingly taking so long to arrive, Spring is finally here. Flowers are blooming, and allergies are raging. And after a long winter, many are ready to hit the great outdoors by either visiting one of many great parks and famous hiking trails in Sullivan County or just in their own backyard. Either way, you need to play it safe. This not only means wearing your mask if you are outdoors and cannot practice social distancing, but you also need to worry about ticks. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), ticks are around all year, but they are most productive between April and September. Before you head out to the great outdoors and start your new adventure, there are a few things you can do to protect yourself from ticks that can cause Lyme disease and pass on other infections.
SULLIVAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT
Watch out! It’s tick time BY PATRICIO ROBAYO
Lyme Disease
According to Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County (CCESC), Lyme Disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and is transmitted to humans by the bite of infected black-legged ticks. Some of the symptoms can include fever, headache, fatigue, and skin rash. The disease, if left untreated, can spread to the heart, joints, and nervous system. CCESC says most cases can be treated with a few weeks of antibiotics; however, according to the CDC, left untreated, Lyme disease can cause severe headaches and neck stiffness, memory loss, and other long-term effects. Protect yourself!
Before you go out on your adventure, think ahead and know where you are going and that there might be a high chance of ticks latching onto you. Ticks like to inhabit grassy, brushy, or wooded areas, or even on animals. Deer and rodents can
CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS
The above image shows the tick in stages from the tiny nymph to an adult female. The image at right is of an engorged tick. People who’s animals run around outside will often have their pets come home with the engorged tick latched onto their skin. They can (and should) be pulled off and discarded somewhere safe.
also carry them. So if you are outdoors either walking the dog, camping, checking your tomatoes in the garden, you can come in close contact with ticks. According to the CDC, most people get ticks in their backyard and even their front yard. Ticks have no boundaries, so it is best to prepare yourself with these tips. Tips
You can treat your clothing and camping gear beforehand with
Permethrin, a pesticide that repels mosquitoes and ticks. Remember to wash your hands when applying the chemical and clean after direct contact with the skin. Keep away from pets and children. You can also use the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents containing DEET. If you are on the trails, you can
MAY 2021
avoid ticks on your journey by avoiding wooded and brushy areas with high grass and leaf litter. It is recommended you walk in the center of trails. Check yourself!
Once you come back from your grand adventure, whether it was conquering a mountain’s trails or simply mowing the grass, you need to check yourself. You should not enter the house with clothes that are in heavily wooded or grassy areas. Or if you have participated in heavy outdoor activities like hiking, long walks in the woods, or doing yard work like trimming the grass or working the garden. Once you contain the clothes, you can either throw them into the washing machine and wash with hot water then tumble hot in the dryer soon after. If you don’t want to wash your clothes, you can toss the clothes in the dryer and give them a spin on the highest setting to make sure those ticks are gone. It is also a good idea to take a shower to help remove any ticks. The CDC says you should check under the arms, in and around the ears, inside the belly button, back of the knees, in and around the hair, between the legs, and even around the waist. These are considered tick hot spots. If found, you will need to remove them using tweezers and pull upward with steady, even pressure. Don’t twist or jerk the tick; this can cause the mouth-parts to break off and remain in the skin according to the CDC. The CDC said if this happens, remove the mouth-parts with tweezers. If you are unable to remove the mouth easily with clean tweezers, leave it alone and let the skin heal. So whatever you do in the great outdoors, stay safe from ticks by following some tips, using good tick repellent, and being thoughtful about what you are doing and how long an encounter with a tick can affect you and your family. So stay safe!