Wright County Environmental Health Director, Sandy McGrath is as excited as the next person that temperatures are warming up and summer is upon us. That means more time to spend in the great outdoors, soaking in the sunshine. However, McGrath wants to remind the community, we’re not the only ones who enjoy being out in the summer – so do mosquitos and ticks and that can mean problems for us. But McGrath says not to worry, there are several things we can do to protect ourselves.
“I don’t want to scare anyone from enjoying the outdoors and outdoor activities, just to be armed with preventative measures,” said McGrath.
That includes both steps we can take to protect ourselves personally, and for a community as a whole.
“Being a good neighbor by keeping grass mowed, standing water dumped, and litter/trash picked up in your neighborhood is a good start,” said McGrath.
Mosquitoes need water to lay eggs, so standing water, such as buckets, plastic sacs or bottles, kiddie swimming pools, and old tires, for example, are a breeding ground for these bothersome creatures. Birdbath water should be changed every three to four days. Pet Bowls are something else that most people forget about as fly and mosquito attractors. Change them regularly. Windows and doors should have a tight fitting screen. Make sure roof gutters are clean and in good repair. Repair outdoor faucets, air conditioners, and hoses which may increase standing water around your home. Also be sure to cover trash cans and rain barrels. Doing these things will help alleviate an infestation of the pests.
When it comes to protecting you and your family personally from mosquito-borne illnesses (which, in the Midwest, include, La Crosse encephalitis, St Louis encephalitis, and West Nile Virus.), McGrath offers these tips derived from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention:
Peak mosquito biting hours are from dusk to dawn, wear mosquito repellent such as DEET, permethrin, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Wear light colored, long sleeved shirts and long pants.
Ticks are also a concern in the summer months for both humans and animals. However, the tic is much more sneaky and harder to detect. If you find one crawling on you, don’t be alarmed. Simply remove it and dispose of it. According to the CDC, a tick must bite you to spread their germs. A tick needs to be attached to you for different amounts of time to infect you with that germ.
“Your risk of Lyme disease is very low if a tick has been attached for fewer than 36 hours,” McGrath points out.
Even if you are not in a “woodsy” area, you should check for ticks daily. Pay special attention in and around the hair area, ears, under arms, inside the belly button, around the waist, between the legs, and the back of the knees. However, a tick can be anywhere, so be diligent in your search.
If you find one, remove the tick as soon as possible using fine-tipped tweezers to grasp close to the skin and pull upward with steady even pressure, don’t twist or jerk the tick. After removal, clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol or soap and water. Watch for symptoms for 30 days. Call your healthcare provider if you notice any of the following: Rash, fever, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, joint swelling and pain.
Again, McGrath urges you not to let the “fear of a tick” prevent you from enjoying normal summer activities. Just be smart and take precautions. Wear insect repellent containing DEET. Check for ticks after activities in bushy areas. Ticks are generally found near the ground in busy or wooded areas. They can’t jump or fly, instead they climb tall grasses or shrubs and wait for potential hosts to brush against them, so shower soon after coming indoors. Also, be sure and check your pets for ticks after they’ve been outside.
Tick-borne diseases in the Midwest include Lyme Disease, Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, and Rocky Mountain Spotted fever – which has been reported but is unusual in the Midwest. Take precaution anywhere in the US regardless. McGrath stressed that you should also take precautions when traveling outside of the U.S. since ticks and mosquitos are everywhere.
Remember to “Fight the Bite” while you’re enjoying all the great activities in Wright County this summer.
