Madison County officials provide tips to stay tick-free

Wampsville, N.Y. — Officials in Madison County are sharing some tips to stay tick-free this season.

Officials noted how blacklegged ticks are of concern because the bite from an infected tick could spread Lyme disease, a bacterial infection, to you. Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease.

Typical symptoms of Lyme disease include fever, chills, headache, exhaustion, joint swelling, drooping on one or both sides of the face, and a characteristic skin rash called erythema migraines. A healthcare provider may treat a person for Lyme disease based on symptoms or may decide to run blood tests. Blood testing for Lyme disease is more accurate 4-6 weeks after the start of the illness than in the first days or weeks of illness.

There are several actions you can start now and continue through fall to prevent tick bites:

When going outdoors One of the best ways to avoid a tick bite is to apply insect repellent on your skin and clothes before going outdoors to walk, play, or work. Select an insect repellent known to be effective against ticks (not all are). Use the EPA tool for help selecting an insect repellent with the hourly protection time and ingredients you want at https:// www.epa.gov/insect-repellents/find-repellent-rightyou.

In some areas, any contact with plants or bushes, even in your backyard, has the risk of contact with ticks. When in wooded and grassy areas, wear lightcolored clothing and tuck pants into socks and shirts into pants. Light clothes make it easier to spot ticks and tucking your clothes in helps keep ticks off your skin. After every two to three hours outdoors, check for ticks on clothing or skin. Brush off any ticks before they can attach to your skin.

When indoors

Do a thorough check of your entire body from head to toe at the end of the day. Pay close attention to the back of the knees, around the waist, between the legs, behind and in the ears, in and around the hair, under the arms armpits and on the back. Check your children and pets, too.

Properly and quickly remove attached ticks. If an attached tick is removed within 24 hours, the risk of infection is small. Tick removal can be done at home with a set of pointy tweezers. A video of tick removal is available at https://web. uri.edu/tickencounter/howto-remove-a-tick/.

After removing the tick, disinfect the bite site with soap, rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. Wash your hands carefully. Record the date and location of the tick bite. Place the tick in a sealed bag or flush down the toilet.

Shower soon after being outdoors to help wash away unattached ticks. Immediately put your clothes in the dryer on the high setting for 10 minutes to kill any ticks.

Use these simple tips every day to help you prevent tick bites and focus on the outdoor activities you enjoy. To learn more about Lyme disease, visit www.healthymadisoncounty.org.

FOR MEDIANEWS GROUP An informational card about ticks distributed by the Maine Medical Center Research Institute is seen in the woods in Freeport, Maine. State officials say ticks are back with a vengeance, meaning tick-borne illnesses like Lyme disease will see no wane. No decrease is expected in Lyme nationwide, either, in part because of climate change.