The Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department urges residents to continue to be tick aware. Over the years, the tick population and areas in which they reside have grown, and the warmer winters have allowed more to survive.
West Virginia has had a high rate of tick-borne Lyme disease since 2017, with others such as anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever also reported.
Lyme disease occurs if the bacteria avoids the immune system at the tick bite, causing flu-like symptoms. Certain strains of the bacteria can cause more severe symptoms of neurological and/or cardiac issues in about 1-10 percent of Lyme disease cases.
About 30,000-50,000 Lyme Disease cases are reported every year in the United States. Around 250-6,000 cases of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever are reported, making it more rare, but more dangerous if not receiving prompt treatment.
There is plenty of tick-borne disease misinformation circulating online. Remember, getting bit by a tick does not mean you will get a disease – many factors are involved including whether or not the tick is carrying the bacteria and for how long the tick is feeding. If you are bitten and showing symptoms like fever, headaches, chills, muscle aches/pain, and/or rash, contact your healthcare provider, who can test for these diseases and give proper treatment. Do not rely on internet tests or treatments.
Make sure you are using DEET or Picaridin as insect repellents – both of which have decades of proven safety and effectiveness – and are using them according to the product’s instructions. Homemade repellents are not as effective.
Spending any time outside can put our human and pet residents in the path of ticks. After coming back inside, make sure to do a full body check. Check:
- Under the arms
- In/around ears
- Inside belly button
- Back of knees
- in/around hair
- Between legs
- Around waist
Take a shower immediately and wash and dry the clothes worn outside on high heat.
On pets, you should comb them immediately after coming back inside and check:
- in/around ears
- Around tail
- Around eyelids
- Under collar
- Under front legs
- Between toes
- Between back legs
Talk to your veterinarian about tick prevention products for dogs. Cats are extremely sensitive to a variety of chemicals, so talk to your veterinarian before applying any kind of tick prevention products to them.
The CDC gives tips on how to remove a tick. You should:
- Use clean, fine-tipped tweezers to grasp tick as close to skin as possible
- Pull upward with steady, even pressure (do not twist/jerk)
- After removal, clean the area and your hands with soap and water
- Do not crush tick with fingers – dispose of it by:
- Putting it in alcohol
- Putting it in a sealed bag
- Wrapping it tightly in tape
- Flushing down toilet