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CONTACT: Beth Kaplan, (608)
266-1683
TICKBORNE DISEASES REMAIN A THREAT IN WISCONSIN
May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month; State Officials
Urge Precautions
MADISON—Wisconsin’s warm spring weather will mean more blacklegged tick
activity, which could start earlier due to a milder winter. State
officials are urging people to take precautions now against tick bites
when spending time outdoors.
In Wisconsin, infected blacklegged ticks (also known as deer ticks)
can carry the bacteria that cause Lyme disease and other tickborne
diseases, and these diseases are increasing, according to Dr. Henry
Anderson, State Health Officer. In 2011, there was a preliminary report
of 4,123 confirmed and probable cases of tickborne diseases compared
with 4,073 cases in 2010.
Recognizing and treating tickborne diseases early is important,
Anderson noted. Signs and symptoms of Lyme disease, the state’s most
frequently reported tickborne illness, may occur 3 days to 30 days after
the bite of an infected tick and can include a characteristic rash
called an erythema migrans (EM) rash, fever and chills, fatigue,
headache, muscle and joint pain, and swollen lymph nodes. The rash is
circular and red initially and expands over several days, though it may
not occur in all cases. The disease is easily treated with antibiotics
when detected early. If left untreated, Lyme disease can result in
debilitating arthritis, and serious heart and nervous system
complications.
Other tickborne illnesses range from mild to severe and include
anaplasmosis, the state’s second highest reported tickborne illness,
babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, and Powassan virus disease. Signs and symptoms
of these illnesses can include fever, chills, sweats, muscle aches,
joint pain, headache, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, and loss of
appetite. Severe cases can include a change in mental status, paralysis
and coma, and can be fatal. Unlike anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis and
babesiosis, Powassan virus infections are not treatable with
antibiotics.
These steps can help prevent tick bites and reduce the chance of
getting tickborne diseases:
- 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 repellents and apply according to the label
instructions. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
recommends using repellents with 20% DEET on exposed skin and
clothing to prevent tick bites. Adults should apply repellents to
children, taking special care to avoid spraying in the hands, eyes,
and mouth. Repellents that contain permethrin can also be applied to
clothing.
- Wear clothes that will help shield you from ticks. Long-sleeved
shirts and long pants are best. Tuck your pants into the top of your
socks or boots, to create a “tick barrier.” Light-colored clothing
makes 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 areas. Continue to remove leaf
litter and clear tall grass and brush around houses throughout the
summer.
- Check your body frequently for ticks, and remove them promptly.
Blacklegged ticks are small and may be difficult to find so careful
and thorough tick checks must be done on all parts of the body. 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. Folk
remedies like petroleum jelly, nail polish remover, or burning
matches are not 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:
http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/communicable/TickBorne/index.htm.
For information on insect repellents:
http://cfpub.epa.gov/oppref/insect/.
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Last Revised:
May 02, 2012
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