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The tick season has arrived in Michigan – and that's not a good thing.
Although ticks can transmit multiple diseases, Lyme disease is the most commonly reported tick-borne disease in Michigan. Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and is transmitted by the blacklegged tick / deer.
Related: 5 invasive insects to watch in Michigan
The blacklegged tick is well established in the Upper and Lower Peninsulas of western Michigan. However, it is growing in new areas of the lower peninsula. In 2017, more than 300 human cases of Lyme disease have been reported and about two in three cases have been reported in Michigan.
The 2019 Lyme Disease Risk Map shows that the at – risk zone continues to move east in the Detroit metropolitan area:
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported last year that mosquito, tick and flea-borne diseases tripled in the United States from 2004 to 2016. The report also concludes that Lyme disease is a growing concern for Michigan. To read the full report, visit the CDC website.
How to protect yourself from ticks
Avoid areas infested with ticks.
- Walk to the center of the trails to avoid contact with grass, brush and dead leaves covering the vegetation along the trails.
- Protect your pets too! Dogs and cats can come into contact with ticks on the outside and bring them home. It is therefore recommended to use products that prevent ticks on pets.
Use an insect repellent.
- Apply an insect repellent containing DEET (20-30%) or Picaridin on exposed skin.
- Treat clothing (especially pants, socks and shoes) with permethrin, which kills ticks on contact, or buy pre-treated clothing. Do not use permethrin directly on the skin.
- Always follow the manufacturer's instructions when applying repellents.
Perform daily checks.
- Always check the ticks on you and your animals after being outside even in your own garden.
- Carefully inspect all body surfaces and remove ticks attached with a tweezers.
- To remove a tick, grasp it firmly and as close to the skin as possible. From a regular motion, move the body away from the tick of the skin. Clean the area with an antiseptic.
Bath or shower.
- Take a bath or shower as soon as possible after your arrival indoors (preferably within two hours) to wash yourself and find ticks that crawl over you more easily.
- Washing clothes in hot water and drying them at high temperatures kills clothing ticks.
- Michigan citizens can submit ticks to the MDHHS for identification and possible screening for Lyme disease, free of charge.
The five most common ticks in Michigan
What you need to know about Lyme disease:
Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and is transmitted by the blacklegged tick. It is the most commonly reported vector-borne disease in the United States and it is spreading in the state of Michigan.
Related: 5 invasive plants to watch in Michigan
Typical clinical signs include flu-like symptoms. However, if left untreated, they can spread to the joints, heart and / or nervous system. The majority of cases can be treated successfully with antibiotics. Finding and eliminating ticks quickly can prevent Lyme disease.
First signs and symptoms (3 to 30 days after tick bite)
- Fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle and joint pain and swollen lymph nodes
- Rash of erythema migrans (EM):
- Occurs in about 70 to 80% of infected people
- Starts at the site of a tick bite after a delay of 3 to 30 days (the average is about 7 days)
- Increases gradually over a period of several days up to 30 cm (12 inches) or more
- Can be warm to the touch but rarely causes itching or pain
- Sometimes clear as it grows, giving a target or "target-like" appearance
- May appear on any area of the body
- See examples of rash EM
Late signs and symptoms (a few days or months after the tick bite)
- Headache and stiff neck
- Extra rash on other areas of the body
- Arthritis with severe joint pain and swelling, especially knees and other large joints.
- Facial paralysis (loss of muscle tone or looseness of one or both sides of the face)
- Intermittent pain in the tendons, muscles, joints and bones
- Heart palpitations or irregular heartbeats (Lyme carditis)
- Episodes of vertigo or shortness of breath
- Inflammation of the brain and spinal cord
- Nerve pain
- Stabbing pain, numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
- Short-term memory problems
Related: 11 invasive species to watch in Michigan
How to help keep ticks out of your yard, home in Michigan
Copyright 2019 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit – All rights reserved.
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