Tick season is here and the Ridgefield Health Department is
kicking off its new prevention program… “BLAST Lyme Disease.”
BLAST stands for the five most important things you and your
family can do to stay safe from tick-borne diseases. B stands for bathing soon after spending time outdoors.
A recent study showed that people who didn’t contract Lyme
disease were more likely to shower or bathe within two hours
after spending time in their yards. L reminds everyone to look their bodies over for ticks daily
and remove them properly. Speedy removal helps avoid disease
transmission. Remove ticks carefully by their mouth parts with
a tweezer and save them in a plastic bag for identification.
Contact your local health department for tick-testing policies
and notify your physician if you have any concerns. Expanding
rashes should be reported to your physician in a timely manner.
The painless erythema migrans (EM) rash can often go unnoticed
and will eventually disappear while the infection remains.
Other early symptoms include fatigue, headache, fever and achy
muscles and joints. A encourages you to become educated about repellants and
apply them appropriately. Studies have shown that applying
30-40% DEET-based repellant to skin is effective at repelling
blacklegged (deer) ticks. Application of 0.5% permethrin-based
insecticide to clothing is highly effective at repelling ticks.
Clothing treated with permethrin can be washed several times
and still retains its repellant properties. S stands for spraying the yard to reduce tick abundance.
Homeowners should consider the benefits of applying pesticide
to the perimeter of their yards. Studies have shown that even
one application of pesticide at the right time of year and in the
best location can reduce blacklegged tick populations by 85 – 90%.
Complete information on tick management is available in
electronic format through the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment
Station at www.ct.gov/caes . T reminds everyone to treat your pets. Local veterinarians offer a
variety of methods for protecting animals from tick-borne diseases.
Dogs and cats increase one’s chances of exposure to Lyme disease.
Pets can carry ticks in to the home on their fur. Pet owners should
be cautious about sleeping with their pets. For additional information on the BLAST Lyme disease prevention
program, contact Sue Perlotto or Jennifer Reid at the Ridgefield
Health Department. Phone 203- 431-2745 or email blastlyme@ridgefieldct.org . |