Avoiding Ticks and Mosquitos Most scientists blame climate change for the surge in tick and mosquito populations throughout the country. Years of milder and longer winters and warmer springs have allowed both bug species to survive and breed. In addition,... The post Tips For Avoiding Tick and Mosquito Bites This Summer. appeared first on Sharp Eye.
Avoiding Ticks and Mosquitos
Most scientists blame climate change for the surge in tick and mosquito populations throughout the country. Years of milder and longer winters and warmer springs have allowed both bug species to survive and breed. In addition, increased rainfall provides ideal environments for the pests to multiply and bite. Both pests have expanded their typical geographical ranges. Ticks, in particular, have increased their reach, and species many of us have never seen before are now threats. The bottom line is that we need to make it hard for a mosquito or tick to bite us.
On your own property:
- Trim back grass and bushes and branches where ticks live.
- Empty standing water which attracts mosquitos. A thimble size of water can hold up to 300 mosquito eggs in it.
- Tightly cover any containers.
- Fill tree divots around the bottom of tree trunks which can have water.
- Put screens on windows.
- Use air conditioning if mosquitos are getting into the house.
- Hire pest control if you feel you are not able to control the ticks and mosquitoes.
- Picaridin (e.g., Sawyer Picaridin) and DEET are top CDC recommendations for skin and clothing tick repellents.
- Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE) provides excellent results as a plant-based tick skin and clothing repellent.
- For pets, Cedarwood oil-based sprays are highly effective for pets.
Being outdoors:
- Wear protective long pants and shirts.
- Opt for light colors which show ticks better.
- Treat clothing (not your skin) with permethrin. Allow clothes and shoes to dry after treating with permethrin before wearing.
- Stay on trails – ticks live in the denser growth.
After being outdoors:
- Inspect yourself, children, and pets right away.
- Inspect any gear you had outside with you – backpacks, leashes, toys, etc.
- Wash and dry clothes – heat and drying will kill ticks.
- Shower immediately – Check your body while in the shower.
Removing ticks from your body:
- Remove with tweezers gently and slowly – gently tug at the tick a couple of times to get it to let go. Eventually pull it away from the skin.
- The sooner you remove a tick the better. Experts say it takes 24-36 hours for an infected tick to pass on any disease it’s carrying.
- Clean the bite with soap or rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer.
- Apply antibiotic cream.
- Flush or seal the tick – take a photo before flushing and have it checked to see what type of tick it is. Take it to your doctor or see if your town office will send it away to be identified. Rhode Island University has a tick encounter program. tickencounter.org
- Ask for antibiotics if it is a tick you need to worry about.
Mosquito and tick-borne diseases – Watch for symptoms:
Mosquito diseases:
West Nile Disease is the mosquito-borne disease we should be worried about in the U.S. – It presents with flu-like symptoms – Fever, rash, muscle aches, joint swelling. In addition, swollen lymph nodes and neck stiffness. Up to 80% of infected people show no symptoms at all.
Tick Diseases:
Up to 50% of ticks in the Northeast may carry Lyme disease. Lyme Disease often presents with a rash.
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is a spotty, non-itchy rash that starts on the wrists and ankles before spreading.
Alpha-gal syndrome causes an allergy to red meat and other food products. Victims will develop severe itchiness, pain or swelling. It is spreading rapidly in the U.S. CDC estimates as many as 450,000 people in the U.S. might have it.
Call your doctor immediately if any symptoms appear.
The post Tips For Avoiding Tick and Mosquito Bites This Summer. appeared first on Sharp Eye.
