Public Service Announcement

www.kendallhealth.org

 Date 03.02.2023

Warmer Weather Welcomes Ticks

Spring-like weather has surprised us recently! As the weather warms to 38 degrees Fahrenheit and above, ticks again become active. It is important to remember to protect yourself by completing tick checks after being outdoors!

Deer ticks, such as the one pictured to the right which was collected in Kendall County, are the known carriers of Lyme Disease. Lyme disease can be serious if left untreated. In 75 percent of the cases, a red circular rash develops at the site of the bite. Flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, nausea, and aching joints may occur and reoccur for several weeks. If not treated, irregularities in heart beat, nervous system problems and arthritis may develop. Antibiotics are effective in controlling this disease if treatment is started early.

Ticks are among the most efficient carriers of disease because they attach firmly when sucking blood, feed slowly and may go unnoticed for a considerable time while feeding. Ticks take several days to complete feeding. Ticks wait for host animals from the tips of grasses and shrubs (not from trees).

• When brushed by a moving animal or person, they quickly let go of the vegetation and climb onto the host.
• Ticks can only crawl; they cannot fly or jump. Ticks found on the scalp have usually crawled there from lower parts of the body. Some species of ticks will crawl several feet toward a host.

Because ticks are sensitive to dry conditions and do not thrive in short vegetation, they are seldom a problem in well-maintained lawns. You are more likely to encounter a tick on the edge of a forest or tall field.

• Always wear long pants with the cuffs tucked into socks or boots.
• Apply an insect repellent containing at least 20% DEET to socks, pants, and exposed skin areas.
• Wearing a hat will help a lot and wear light-colored clothing so ticks are more easily seen and removed. After an outing, shower, shampoo and check your entire body. Wash clothing immediately in hot water.
• You should avoid tick infested areas.

Visit our page at https://www.kendallhealth.org/environmental-health/ticks/ to learn more.

**KCHD’s Weekly COVID-19 data ended on Nov. 1, 2022. This data can be found at https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/.

For more information on COVID-19 Vaccine, please visit our Kendall County Health Department COVID-19 Vaccine information page.