COLUMBIA, Mo. – As temperatures rise and people begin camping, fishing and farming, it’s more important than ever to be aware of the health dangers posed by ticks, says University of Missouri and Lincoln University Extension urban entomologist Emily Althoff.
Increasing reports of alpha-gal syndrome, Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and other tick-related illnesses highlight why preparation is essential before spending time outside in spring and summer, Althoff says.
Missouri’s tick populations are especially high from April through September. The lone star tick is the most common species in the state, followed by the American dog tick and the blacklegged (deer) tick.
A newer arrival is the longhorned tick, an invasive species.
Ticks are the most important vectors of disease in domestic and wild animals throughout the world, and are second only to mosquitoes in transmitting disease in humans.
Ticks frequently attach to the lower legs of people and then crawl upward before embedding themselves in the skin to feed. They thrive in the humid, cool layer at the soil’s surface and often locate hosts using an ambush strategy known as “questing.”
Althoff recommends three “Ds” to protect yourself:
Dress to defend
The right choice of clothing can help you prevent you from picking up ticks, says Althoff. First, choose light-colored garments. Tuck the shirt into the pants, and tuck pants into the socks.
“This is where duct tape comes in handy,” she says. Duct tape the bottom of the pant legs closed to prevent ticks from getting to your skin.
Use DEET
Always apply DEET-based insect repellent when visiting wooded areas or working on farms, says MU Extension health and safety specialist Karen Funkenbusch. Apply only as directed to exposed skin or clothing. Avoiding eyes, mouth, injured skin and children’s hands. Be careful not to inhale the product, and do not use it around food. Wash treated skin and clothing thoroughly once you’re back indoors, says Funkenbusch.
Search and destroy
After coming inside, perform a full-body tick check. Look inside and behind the ears, along the hairline, the back of the neck, armpits, groin, legs, behind the knees and even between toes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends showering within two hours of being outdoors.
If you find a tick, remove it with sturdy tweezers. Grasp the tick at the front of its body, as close to the skin as possible, and pull straight out. Avoid squeezing the rear of the tick, as this can cause it to expel gut contents into your skin, increasing the risk of infection. Clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol, iodine or soap and water.
Dogs and cats can get ticks when they walk through high grasses or heavily wooded areas. Thus, it is important to perform tick checks on your animals regularly. Here, you should check
In and around the ears,
Around the eyelids,
Under the collar,
Around the tail,
Between the toes,
Between the back legs, and
Under the front legs.
You can use your fingers like a comb to detect ticks on the pet’s body. To remove the tick, you can use either a tick remover or tweezers and slowly pull straight upward. It is also important to wash the bite site afterwards with soap and water or with rubbing alcohol. You can dispose of the tick by flushing it down the toilet.
If your pet spends a lot of time outdoors, consult with your vet about appropriate flea and tick prevention methods. Dogs are also able to receive a vaccine to prevent Lyme disease.
While the risk of tick transmission from pets to people is low compared to direct contact outdoors, it is important to conduct regular tick checks on the whole family as the weather warms up.
Publication: “Guide to Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases” is available for free download at https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/ipm1032
Video: Emily Althoff offers tick tips, https://youtu.be/lDdahnY3usw.
Related story: “Livestock producers face health threats from ticks,” https://muext.us/110525ticks.
More about alpha-gal syndrome: https://muext.us/AGS.
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