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TICKS AND LYME DISEASE As part of annual surveillance efforts, staff from the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) collect and test ticks from locations across New York State to monitor for certain tick-borne pathogens. This included testing for the pathogen Borrelia burgdorferi (bacterial causative agent of Lyme disease) in Ixodes scapularis , the blacklegged tick, commonly known as the deer tick. The methodology included collecting 50 ticks from a designated location. This collection took place in November of 2016 and, in Cortland County, included the Gee Brook State forest in Cincinnatus and the Finger Lakes Trail at Randall Hill Rd in Cuyler . The results from the Gee Brook testing found 72% infected with B. burgdorferi. Only 1 adult tick was collected ay the FLT and was negative for B. burgdorferi. Adult Ixodes scapularis (deer ticks) primarily feed on deer or larger mammals, and will feed on humans. In general adult deer ticks are twice as likely to be infected with pathogens as the stage. However, due to their larger size, attached adult deer ticks are usually detected and removed before they can transmit pathogens, the duration of time required for a deer tick to feed and transmit B. burgdorferi is 36 to 48 hours. Adult deer ticks are typically active from mid-October until temperatures are consistently below freezing. They are also present in late winter and early spring, from March through June The stage of the deer tick, though it has a lower infection rate than adults from the same geographic area, will feed on humans, is small in size and more difficult to detect than adults, and is the life stage most likely to transmit B.burgdorferi. ticks are active from mid-May through July. 1. What Is Lyme Disease? Lyme disease is a bacterial infection caused by the bite of an infected deer tick. Untreated, the disease can cause a number of health problems. Patients treated with antibiotics in the early stage of the infection usually recover rapidly and completely. What Are the of Lyme Disease? The early of Lyme disease may be mild and easily missed. If you find a tick attached to your skin, remove the tick with tweezers (see tick removal instructions), and watch for the of Lyme disease. In 60-80% of cases the first is a rash, known as erythema migrans, that: • Occurs at or near the site of the tick bite. • Is a "bulls-eye" circular patch or solid red patch that grows larger. • Appears between three days and one month after the tick bite. • Has a diameter of two to six inches. • Lasts for about three to five weeks. • May or may not be warm to the touch. • Is usually not painful or itchy. • Sometimes leads to multiple rashes Ticks will attach themselves anywhere including the thighs, groin, trunk, armpits and behind the ears. If you are infected, the rash may be found in one of these areas. Around the time the rash appears, other such as joint pain, chills, fever and fatigue can occur, but they may seem too mild to require medical attention. As Lyme disease progresses, severe fatigue, a stiff neck, tingling or numbness in the arms and legs, or facial paralysis can occur. The most severe of Lyme disease may not appear until weeks, months or years after the tick bite. These can include severe headaches, painful arthritis, swelling of the joints, and heart and central nervous system problems. ---PAGE BREAK--- How Is Lyme Disease Diagnosed? If you think you have Lyme disease, you should see your health care provider immediately. Early diagnosis of Lyme disease should be made on the basis of and history of possible exposure to ticks. Blood tests may give false negative results if performed in the first month after the tick bite. How Is Lyme Disease Treated? Early treatment of Lyme disease involves antibiotics and almost always results in a full cure. However, the chances of a complete cure decrease if treatment is delayed. Make sure you check with your provider if you have any concern, or noted above after a tick bite or after being in an area where ticks are likely to be! 2. How To Prevent Bites From Ticks If you find yourself in an area that may have ticks, your best protection is to avoid contact with soil, leaf litter and vegetation. However, if you garden, hike, camp, hunt, work, or otherwise spend time in the outdoors, you can still protect yourself in the following ways. • Wear light-colored clothing with a tight weave to spot ticks easily. • Wear enclosed shoes (not sandals), long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. Tuck pant legs into socks, and shirt into pants. • Check clothes and any exposed skin frequently for ticks while outdoors and check again once indoors. • Consider using insect repellent. Always follow label directions. • Stay on cleared, well-traveled trails. Avoid contacting vegetation. • Avoid sitting directly on the ground or on stone walls. • Keep long hair tied back, especially when gardening. • Don’t forget to check your pets for ticks. Once a tick gets on the skin, it generally climbs upward until it reaches a protected area. To properly remove a tick: • Using tweezers, grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible. • Gently twist the tick in a counter clockwise direction with a steady, upward motion. • Wash the area and apply an antiseptic. • When trying to remove the tick: DO NOT touch the tick with your bare hands. DO NOT squeeze the body of the tick as this may increase your risk of infection. DO NOT put alcohol, nail polish remover or Vaseline on the tick. DO NOT put a hot match or cigarette on the tick in an effort to make it "back out." DO NOT use your fingers to remove the tick. 3. Preventing Ticks in Your Yard - Create a Tick-Safe Zone With Landscaping The risk of exposure to ticks is greatest along trails in the woods and on the edges of properties with tall vegetation, but ticks may also be carried by animals and pets into lawns and gardens. You can make your yard less attractive to ticks depending on how you landscape. Here are some simple landscaping ideas that can help reduce tick populations: • Clear tall grasses and brush around homes and at the edge of lawns. • Place a 3-ft wide barrier of wood chips or gravel between lawns and wooded areas and around patios and play equipment. This will restrict tick migration into recreational areas. • Mow the lawn frequently and keep leaves raked. • Stack wood neatly and in a dry area away from the house (discourages rodents that ticks feed on). • Keep playground equipment, decks, and patios away from yard edges and trees and place them in a sunny location, if possible. • Remove any old furniture, mattresses, or trash from the yard that may give ticks a place to hide. ---PAGE BREAK--- For more information on ticks visit the following websites: The NYS Department of Health website which includes information on many tick borne diseases: http://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/lyme/ Cortland County Health Department, Division of Environmental Health website http://www.cortland-co.org/486/Lyme-Disease-Other-Vector-Borne-Diseases