Tick Tock - Time to be on the Lookout for Ticks

The long-awaited warmer weather has arrived and, like many, I’m eager to spend more time outdoors with my family. However, there is one thing I’m not excited about—ticks.  While ticks are very small, they can spread many different diseases, potentially causing big problems for our health. Locally, Lyme disease (carried by the deer or black-legged tick) is the most common illness transmitted by ticks.  Young deer ticks, called nymphs, are brown and the size of a poppy seed—less than 2mm!  Unless you’re looking for them, they can be easy to miss.  This is why we do daily tick checks in our family – and why I would recommend for you to add a quick tick check to your daily routine.  Ticks have been in the news frequently over the past couple of years as tick populations continue to grow, yet many myths about ticks still exist.  Here’s what you need to know to keep you and your loved ones safe:

·         Deer ticks are most commonly found outdoors in shady, moist areas at ground level.  They also live in lawns and gardens.  Just because you haven’t been outside doesn’t mean you’re safe from ticks—pets can carry ticks into your home.

·         Ticks can attach to any part of the human body but are often found in hard-to-see areas such as the groin, armpits, and scalp.

·         Not all ticks are infected.  Your risk of disease is greatly reduced if the tick is removed within the first 24-36 hours.

·         To remove a tick, use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick at the surface of your skin and pull the tick straight up and out.

·         Keep an eye on the bite site for the next 30 days and know what signs and symptoms you should watch for.

·         Protect yourself from future tick bites by using an EPA-registered insect repellent and wearing the correct clothing. You can also take steps to reduce the number of ticks around your home.

Jennifer Trudeau, RN

Principal Public Health Educator

Puppy Fever?

You find an adorable puppy with no apparent owner.  It follows you about, is well-behaved, friendly and lovable – how could you not take it home, right?  It’s great with the kids, games of tug-o-war with a towel and playing chase with the neighbors’ dogs.  Maybe a chew or two on a finger (he’s teething after all), or a nip at a heel during a game of chase and lots of face licking!  By evening everyone is tired and the puppy is curled up with your kids on the couch, fast asleep- how cute!  How fortunate to have found this little ball of fur.  

Fast forward a couple of weeks and puppy seems a bit slow and tired.  Well, puppies play hard so that is normal, right? Each day he seems to get a bit weaker to the point where he can barely walk out to the backyard and just lies down by his water bowl so you take him to the vet. 

What could have happened, he was so full of life only a few days ago?! Your vet tells you that your puppy has symptoms of rabies – weak legs, tired and stumbling.  This may sound like a horror show, but something similar happened right here in Clinton County this year.  

Rabies is a deadly disease.  Once symptoms appear in our pets or in people, there is no cure. Any person or pet that came in contact with an infected animal is at risk of getting rabies. The good news? If you seek medical care immediately after an animal bite, there is a very successful treatment.  

What should you do if you are bitten by a pet or wildlife?

1.      Get the animal owner’s name, address and phone number – this is important!

2.      Note where and when the bite happened.

3.      Note the animal’s color, condition, size and temperament.

4.      Thoroughly wash the wound with soap and water and seek medical attention for your wound immediately – animal bites can be infected with many diseases besides rabies.

5.      Report the incident to the Clinton County Health Department (CCHD) Rabies Officer by calling 518-565-4870.

What do we do when you call us?

• We do not search for or catch animals.

• Use the information you give us to contact the animal owner and make sure the animal did not have rabies at the time it bit you.

• Verify the rabies vaccination status of the animal.

• Track the animal’s health.  If it is alive and well 10 days after the day it bit you, it did not have rabies at the time of the bite.

How can you prevent rabies?

• Do not attempt to catch or pet strays or wildlife.

• Keep rabies vaccinations up-to-date for all cats, ferrets, and dogs.

• Control your pets – keep cats and ferrets inside and keep dogs on a leash.

• Spay or neuter your pets to help reduce the number of unwanted pets that may not be properly cared for or vaccinated.

•  Call animal control if you find a stray animal.

Stay Safe!

Judy Ross

Principal Public Health Sanitarian