May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month
The warm spring in Wisconsin has triggered more deer tick activity than usual in many parts of the state, leading health officials to urge precautions against tick bites when outdoors. Infected deer ticks can carry Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases. Noting that May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month, Dr. Seth Foldy, State Health Officer, said that Lyme disease illnesses in 2009 remained at high levels. In Wisconsin a total 2,580 cases of Lyme disease were reported in 2009 compared to 2,048 cases in 2008. May through August is the peak period for deer tick bites.
“The key to preventing Lyme disease is avoiding tick bites and to find and remove ticks promptly,” Foldy said. “Rapid detection and removal of ticks also prevents disease because a tick must be attached for at least 24 hours to cause disease. Because they are small, between the size of a poppy and sesame seed, people should inspect themselves and their children and pets in good light as soon as possible after being outdoors.”
Although a characteristic “bulls-eye” rash may occur 3 days to 30 days after the bite of an infected tick, this does not always occur. Lyme disease can result in arthritis, and serious heart and nervous system problems. The disease is treated with antibiotics, and is more easily treated when detected early.
People can take steps to avoid tick bites and reduce the chance of getting Lyme disease:
- Avoid wooded and bushy areas with high grass and leaf litter since ticks prefer these areas. Stay to the center of a trail to avoid contact with grass and brush.
- Use effective tick repellants and apply according to the label instructions. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that adults use repellants with 20-30% DEET on exposed skin and clothing to prevent tick bites. Repellants that contain permethrin can also be applied to clothing.
- Wear clothes that will help shield you from ticks. Longsleeved shirts and long pants are best. Tuck your pants into the top of your socks or boots, to create a “tick barrier.” Lightcolored clothing make ticks easier to spot.
- Landscape homes and recreational areas to reduce the number of ticks and create tick-safe zones by using woodchips or gravel along the border between lawn and wooded area. Continue to remove leaf litter and clear tall grass and brush around the houses throughout the summer.
- Check frequently for ticks, and remove them promptly. Deer ticks are small and may be difficult to find, so tick checks must be done on all parts of the body carefully and thoroughly. It is important to pay special attention to areas where ticks tend to hide such as the head, scalp, and body folds (armpit, behind the knee, groin).
- Remove attached ticks slowly and gently, using a pair of thin-bladed tweezers applied as close to the skin as possible. The goal is to pull the tick’s head away from the skin, but not to squeeze the body of the tick. Folk remedies like petroleum jelly, nail polish remover or burning matches are not a safe or effective ways to remove ticks.
- Protect your pets from tick bites by checking your dog or cat for ticks before allowing them inside. While a vaccine can prevent Lyme disease in pets, it will not stop the animal from carrying infected ticks into the home. Speak to your veterinarian about topical tick repellant available for pets.
For more information visit: http://dhs.wisconsin.gov/communicable/LymeDisease/
