With the summer months ahead, tick season is in full force. The Department of Health and Human Services encourages residents to be mindful of ticks and share information on how to stay safe.
Ticks are small arachnids that feed on blood and can transmit and spread serious diseases to both people and animals. Common tickborne diseases include Lyme disease, Ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Alpha-Gal Syndrome, and Tularemia. If removed from a person or pet within 24 hours, the chance of a tick transmitting one of these diseases is greatly reduced.
The DHHS says that it is important to locate signs and symptoms of these diseases to get proper care as quickly as possible.
Common symptoms of tick-related illnesses include fever or chills, aches and pain, and rash and skin ulcers. Fever or chills are common with Lyme disease, Ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Tularemia. Aches and pain including headaches, fatigue, and muscle aches are common with Lyme disease, Ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Alpha-Gal Syndrome. Rashes and skin ulcers are common in Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Ehrlichiosis, and Tularemia, but not all infected individuals will develop a rash or skin ulcer.
Ticks are typically found in or along brushy, wooded, or grassy areas. If you are in these areas, after you go indoors you should do the following things to stay safe from ticks: Conduct full-body tick checks, put your clothes in the dryer for ten minutes on high to kill any ticks, shower within two hours after coming indoors, and don’t forget to check your pets as well.
The DHHS also recommends some safeguards to help reduce the risk of ticks. They recommend applying an insect repellent containing 20% DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus, treating clothing and gear with products containing 0.5% permethrin, and talking to your veterinarian about finding a tick prevention program for your pet.
For more information, visit the NDHHS Vector-Borne Disease website.
