COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency reported on Friday they have received reports of Lyme Disease within their jurisdiction in recent weeks as the arrival of warmer temperatures in March and early April caused ticks to become more active.
They will remain active until autumn when temperatures are consistently below 40 degrees.
A bite from an infected tick can transmit several diseases, including Lyme disease which is the most commonly-reported tick-borne disease.
Health Officer Rebecca Burns says, “As residents return to outdoor activities, it’s important to take precautions and protect against bites from infected ticks. The best way to prevent tick-borne disease is to follow simple steps to avoid being bitten. Your Local Health Department is actively monitoring the jurisdiction’s tick population through our Vector Surveillance program. This information is used to better understand the tick population, tick behavior, and regional trends in diseases carried by ticks.”
The best way to prevent tick bites, especially when spending time in wooded or grassy areas, is to wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts, light colors will show the ticks easier than dark.
Also, keep long hair tied back, especially when gardening. Check for ticks on you and your pet often while outdoors and brush them away before they attach.
Other recommendations from the Health Agency include the following:
- Perform a full body check multiple times during the day, as well as at the end of the day, to ensure that no ticks are attached.
- Tumble clothes in a dryer on high heat for 10 minutes to kill ticks on dry clothing after you come indoors. If the clothes are damp, additional time may be needed.
- Shower soon after coming indoors.
- Consider using repellents containing DEET, picaridin, or IR3535, and follow label instructions.
- Use flea and tick preventative medications on pets.
For more information, contact your local office, visit www.bhsj.org, follow them on Facebook www.facebook.com/BHSJCHA or Instagram www.instagram.com/bhsj_healthagency.
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