NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date:               May 6, 2008

Contacts:        Bill Wiseman, Public Information Officer, 410-638-8498                       

PRACTICAL TIPS TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM LYME DISEASE

Bel Air, MD – May 6, 2008 – Now that springtime is here, families spend more time engaging in outdoor activities.  However, what they may not know is that the parks they frequent and even their own backyards can harbor deer ticks that are especially prevalent from April through October, and can transmit Lyme disease.

The Centers for Disease Control reported that there are approximately 20,000 confirmed cases of Lyme disease in the U.S. each year.  In Harford County alone, there were 100 confirmed cases in 2006, up from 89 in 2005, the two most recent years for which data are available. “While we have seen a distinct rise in the incidence of reported Lyme disease cases in our County, this might simply reflect greater public awareness, and a growing number of individuals who have sought appropriate medical attention involving proper diagnosis and treatment,” states Susan Kelly, Acting Harford County Health Officer.

Particularly during this time of year and especially for those at increased risk, it is recommended that individuals check daily for the presence of ticks on themselves, as well as on pets.  If a tick is found, it should be removed right away using small, pointed tweezers.  The tick’s head should be grasped firmly while gently pulling away from the skin until the tick releases its hold.  It is important not to twist the tick during removal or the head could remain in the skin.  Once removed, place the tick in a jar containing alcohol and contact your health-care provider. Thoroughly wash your hands and the site of the bite with soap and water and apply antiseptic to the bite.  Also remember to take the jar containing the tick with you to when you receive medical care.

Ms. Kelly warns that “campers, hikers, hunters, farmers and people in outdoor occupations are at higher risk because of their increased exposure to areas where ticks usually are found.  Likewise, pregnant women should be especially careful to prevent tick bites because of uncertain effects on the baby.” 

Lyme disease is an infection caused by the bite of a deer tick.  The deer tick is found in marshy places, long grasses, woods and forests, and places where deer frequent.  The ticks prefer warm, moist and dark places on the human body such as the armpits, but will attach themselves to any part of the body.  Once the tick has found its spot on the body, it attaches itself through its bite and begins to suck the host’s blood exposing them to the risk of infection. A tick needs to be attached to a host for approximately 24-48 hours to transmit Lyme disease.

Symptoms of Lyme disease can vary.  In many cases, a large, reddish “bull’s eye”-looking rash appears around the site of the tick bite.  It is important to note that not everyone who has contracted the disease will have this “bull’s eye” looking rash.  Additional symptoms during the early stage of Lyme disease can include chills, fever, headache, fatigue, stiff neck, muscle and/or joint pain, and swollen lymph nodes.  If untreated, the disease can progress to chronic arthritis, meningitis, facial nerve paralysis, hearing abnormalities, nervous system disorders and irregular heartbeat.  “If you do develop signs or symptoms of a tick-related illness, you should see a physician right away, since patients treated with a few weeks of antibiotics in the early stages of the infection usually recover rapidly and completely,” advises Ms. Kelly.

Experts recommend the following preventative measures you can take to reduce your risk of becoming infected with Lyme disease:

• Know when you’re in tick habitat – brushy, wooded areas or areas where grass is tall –where you will need to take precautions.
• Wear clothes that will help to shield you from ticks. Light colored long-sleeved shirts and long pants made of tightly woven fabrics are best. Tuck your pants into the top of your socks or boots to create a “tick barrier.”
• Take special care to check frequently for ticks, especially after returning from an area where you might have been exposed, paying special attention to the back, underarms, groin, and head.  Deer ticks are much smaller than the common dog tick, and can often appear on the skin not much larger than the head of a pin.
• If a tick is found on the body, remove it promptly. Ticks actually have to bite you – and remain attached for one to two days – to transmit Lyme disease, and about one day for human anaplasmosis, another serious tick-related disease.

            Another potentially effective means of protection from tick bites is the use of repellents and insecticides that are available in aerosol pump spray, stick, lotion, cream, or towelette form.  Most common among these are products containing various concentrations of the chemicals DEET and permethrin, which must be used specifically as directed to ensure their safety and effectiveness.  When applying a repellent barrier against ticks, particular attention should be given to shoe tops, socks, and the lower portion of pants.

As part of its outreach initiative to healthcare professionals and the public, the Harford County Health Department Bureau of Environmental Health offers Lyme disease awareness and prevention presentations for interested groups.  The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene also is launching an educational campaign featuring the slogan, “Maryland, Get Ticked Off.”  For additional information on Lyme disease, please contact the Harford County Health Department at 443-643-0315, visit its website at http://www.harfordcountyhealth.com or visit www.MarylandTickOff.org.