Prevent Bite Of Disease-Carrying Insects

Disease-Carrying Insects

Frederick Health Department reminds you, as summer approaches and you are spending more time outdoors, that mosquitoes and ticks carry diseases.

"The incidence of West Nile Virus (WNV) and Lyme Disease (LD) increase during the summer months as people spend more time outdoors. You can prevent exposure to disease-carrying mosquitoes and tics by taking some simple precautions," states Health Officer, Dr. Barbara Brookmyer.

LD is caused by a bacterium that is spread by the bite of a deer tick. You cannot catch LD from another person. The tick must be attached to the body for at least 24 hours in order for the LD bacterium to be passed on to a person. Not every tick bite causes Lyme disease, but a person can get LD more than once.

About 70-80% of those infected with LD will develop a rash where they are bitten. The rash starts as a small red round area, which usually expands to two or more inches across. The center of the rash may be clear giving the rash a "bull's eye" appearance. Other symptoms include fever, headache, tiredness, stiff neck, joint pain, and swollen lymph nodes. Without treatment, the heart, nervous system, or joints may be affected weeks to years later; the rash may also spread to other parts of the body.

Blood tests done in the early stage of LD illness can be negative, so early diagnosis is usually based on symptoms and exposure risks. Symptoms can appear between 3 to 32 days after a tick bite. Most cases of LD can be cured with antibiotics, especially if treatment is begun early in the course of illness. A vaccine to prevent LD was previously available but is no longer produced.

You can prevent LD by taking the following precautions:

• Avoid tick-infested areas such as wooded, brushy, or grassy places.

• Use tick repellent according to the directions on the product label.

• Wear light colored clothes to help spot ticks.

• Wear protective clothing including long pants and long-sleeved shirts – tuck pant legs into socks – when in areas where you may have frequent or prolonged exposure to ticks.

• Inspect your entire body – head to toes – after being outdoors.

• Inspect both your children and pets for ticks after they have been outdoors.

• Remove an attached tick by grasping the tick close to the skin surface and pulling straight back with steady force; use pointed tweezers to grasp the tick. Do not squeeze the tick's body or use petroleum jelly, lighted cigarettes or matches, or alcohol.

• Clean the bite site after removing a tick and then wash your hands.

• Mark your calendar when a tick is taken off your body – this information will be useful to your doctor.

• Keep the grass in your yard cut; remove leaves and leaf litter; clear brush from the yard.

WNV was first detected in the United States in 1999. It is a virus that is spread to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. In rare instances, WNV may be transmitted from human to human through organ donation, blood transfusion, breastfeeding, or from pregnant mother to fetus. WNV is not spread by casual contact such as kissing or touching a person infected with the virus.

Approximately 80 percent of people infected with WNV will show no symptoms. People who do develop illness may experience mild symptoms such as fever, headache, and body aches; occasionally a skin rash and swollen lymph glands may be noticed. These symptoms typically appear 3 to 15 days after someone is bitten by an infected mosquito. Less than 1% of persons infected with the virus will develop serious illness with those 50 years of age and older and those who are immunocompromised having the highest risk.

To decrease your risk of exposure to WNV take the following precautions:

• Stay indoors at dawn or early in the evening.

• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when going outdoors.

• Spray clothing with repellents containing permethrin or DEET (an effective repellent should contain 30% DEET) since mosquitoes may bite through thin clothing.

• Apply repellents sparingly to exposed skin and always follow package instructions.

• Ensure all window screens in your home or business are intact and do not contain holes. Repair any damaged screens.

• Remove all items that contain stagnant water such as tires, tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots or similar water-holding containers.

• Drain water from pool covers and change water in birdbaths at least once a week.

• Turn over plastic wading pools and wheelbarrows when not in use.

• Be sure water does not collect in garbage cans or recycle bins.

• Eliminate standing water that collects on your property.

If you believe you may be infected with either of these diseases or have questions regarding a mosquito or tick bite, contact your health care provider.

source:www.emaxhealth.com