Public health officials urge caution

Sunny, warm days bring out people – and ticks

Daylight savings time and warm temperatures are bringing people to the out-of-doors, prompting state public health officials to warn North Carolinians about the possibility of tick-borne illness.

“Despite its name, North Carolina has more cases of Rocky Mountain spotted fever than any other state, and cases have been on the increase in the past few years. Lyme disease also occurs here,” said State Epidemiologist Dr. Jeffrey Engel. “People need to understand that tick-borne diseases are a possibility, and limit their exposure to ticks. Mosquito-borne illnesses like West Nile virus get a lot of attention, but tick-borne illness actually affects many more North Carolinians than West Nile virus or other mosquito-borne illness.”

Dr. Nolan Newton, chief of the Public Health Pest Management Section, said that you can take actions to reduce your likelihood of tick-borne illness. “Prompt removal of ticks lessens the likelihood of infection,” he said. “Cover as much of your skin as possible. Wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts. Tuck your pant legs into your socks and tuck in your shirt tail. You can also use a repellant containing DEET or permethrin; but be sure to follow the label directions when applying repellant.”

Tips for reducing tick habitat include:

• Mow the lawn often to keep grass short, clear brush and leaf litter under trees, and keep the ground under bird feeders clean.
• Keep playground equipment away from yard edges and trees.
• Pesticides can be effective in controlling ticks, but application should always be done with care and strictly according to the label on the pesticide container.
• Remove plants that attract wild animals like deer and rodents, and construct physical barriers to discourage tick-infested deer from coming near homes.
• Prompt removal of ticks helps to prevent infection. To find and remove ticks:
• Check yourself and your children at least every six hours and quickly remove any ticks. Pay particular attention to the nape of the neck, behind the ears, and the groin, which are favorite places for ticks to attach.
• Use fine-tipped tweezers or shield your fingers with a tissue, paper towel, or rubber gloves.
• Grasp the tick as close to the skin surface as possible and pull upward with steady, even pressure. Do not twist or jerk the tick; this may cause the mouthparts to break off and remain in the skin. Do not squeeze, crush, or puncture the body of the tick.
• After removing the tick, thoroughly disinfect the bite site and wash your hands with soap and water.
• Make a note of the date you removed the tick and save it for identification in case you become ill. This may help your doctor make an accurate diagnosis. Place the tick in a plastic bag and put it in your freezer or drop it in a small container of alcohol.
• If you have any signs or symptoms of tick-borne disease in the month following a tick bite, seek medical help. Symptoms of Rocky Mountain spotted fever include sudden onset of fever, headache, and muscle pain, followed by development of rash. Symptoms of Lyme disease include "bull's-eye" rash accompanied by nonspecific symptoms such as fever, malaise, fatigue, headache, muscle aches, and joint aches.

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