Warm Weather Watch-Out! for Tick Borne Diseases
With the warm weather finally here, please be aware of the potential exposure to ticks and tick-borne diseases. There is several different types of diseases that can be spread to humans from the bite of a tick. The most common are Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Babesiosis, Anaplasmosis, and Ehrlichiosis.
Ticks live in or near wooded or grassy areas but can still be found in yards in your neighborhoods. It is especially important to check your body for ticks after being outdoors. Use a hand-held or full-length mirror to view all parts of your body. Be sure to check these parts of your body:
- Under the arms
- In/around the ears
- Inside belly button
- Back of the knees
- In/around the hair
- Between the legs
- Around the waist
- On the sclap
What to Do if you find a tick?
- Using fine-tipped tweezers, grab the tick close to the skin. Do not twist or jerk the tick, as this may cause the mouthparts to break off and remain in the skin.
- With a steady motion, gently pull straight up until all parts of the tick are removed.
- After removing the tick, clean you skin with soap and warm water.
- Contact a healthcare provider if you develop symptoms of tick-borne disease such as skin rash, tiredness, fever/chills, headache, stiff neck, muscle aches, joint pain, dizziness
Do not use petroleum jelly, hot matches, nail polish remover, or other products to remove a tick.
For more information: https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/vectorborne.shtml
https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/documents/faq/lyme_faq.pdf
