Summer in the Adirondacks is finally here. It’s time to
enjoy all that our beautiful region has to offer, from activities at the lake,
walks on one of our many local trails, to hiking our scenic mountains.
Unfortunately, it’s also the time of year that pests like ticks and mosquitoes
are most common. Aside from being annoying, infected ticks and mosquitoes can
spread diseases. Lyme disease
and West Nile virus (WNV)
are two of the more common tick- and mosquito-borne illnesses in our community.
PREVENTION is your best defense to keep yourself and your family healthy.
·
Use an
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellent that contains
20-30% DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus.
·
Cover
your skin as much as possible. Wear enclosed shoes, long pants and a
long-sleeved shirt. Tuck pant legs into socks or boots and shirt into pants.
·
Wear
light-colored clothing with a tight weave to spot ticks easily.
·
Cover
baby carriers and strollers with mosquito netting when outside.
·
Treat
clothing and gear (such as boots, pants, socks, and tents) with permethrin or
purchase permethrin-treated clothing and gear. Mosquitoes may bite through thin
clothing.
·
Take
a shower as soon as you can after coming indoors to wash away unattached ticks.
·
Look
for ticks on your body. Young ticks are usually the size of a poppy seed, while
adult ticks are about the size of a sesame seed. Ticks often hide under the
armpits, behind the knees, in the hair, at the waistline, and in the groin.
·
Put your
clothes in the dryer on high heat for at least 10 minutes to kill any remaining
ticks.
Watch the video below for instructions on what to do if you
find a tick. We hope that you and your family enjoy a long, beautiful, healthy,
pest-free summer. (http://bit.ly/2rDoj9y)
For more information on ticks visit http://www.clintonhealth.org/ticks,
and for more information on mosquitoes visit http://www.clintonhealth.org/mosquitoes.
