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Tick-borne diseases can be life-threatening, but there are ways to protect yourself
The number of Lyme disease cases dropped last year in Ontario County, compared with an increase in 2017. Mary Beer, Ontario County Public Health Director, hopes that this year will see even fewer cases.
Public health officials are working to prevent tick-borne diseases that can make you very ill and even put your life at risk.
"Adults and children are bedridden or wheelchair-bound in our community and throughout our state because of Lyme disease and its co-infectives," John Messina said in a recent article on Lyme disease. Messina, a resident of Canandaigua and founder of the Ontario Lyme County Support Group, has been battling the tick-borne disease herself. "Please inquire so you can advocate your case about Lyme disease," he said.
"The State of New York continues to be a hotbed for Lyme and tick diseases, with more than 8,700 cases in 2017 – while the Finger Lakes region has experienced 365 of these cases this year "said Senator Pam Helming, R -Canandaigua.
Helming supports increased funding for awareness and research against Lyme disease and related diseases. Recipients of public funds include Cornell University, SUNY Adirondack and the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, all working in the field of tick-borne disease control.
Helming, former Senate Speaker of the Legislative Commission on Rural Resources, is a member of the Senate Working Group on Lyme Diseases and Ticks. A forum that she organized in Canandaigua in September 2017 brought together a group of experts who spoke to more than 150 people. Most indicated by show of hands that they had been directly affected by tick-borne diseases.
Olivia Keller, a recent high school graduate and member of the Ontario County Lyme Support Group, warned in a recent publication that "Tick-borne disease is more than just a pain in the joints". It is important that people know that it can manifest itself in different forms. ways, she said. Symptoms can range from fog to brain to migraines, mental illness, night sweats and heart palpitations, chest pain and high blood pressure, and the ravages of your digestive system.
"The number of Lyme diseases in Ontario County has dropped in 2018 from the high number observed in 2017. West New York counties reported a similar experience in 2018", said Mary Beer, the county's director of public health. "We hope this will be the result of the plethora of public health messages that occurred in 2018."
"Our message continues to be a prevention message and, more importantly, to check yourself, your children and your pets after every outdoor encounter where ticks may be present," added Beer. "The transfer of Lyme disease does not occur immediately after the start of a tick. You have time to remove the tick properly. Monitor your health condition promptly and contact your health care provider or veterinarian if you or your pets have symptoms (rash, headache, fever, chills, fatigue and body aches are the first common symptoms). In the absence of treatment, the symptoms can develop into extra rashes, swelling and joint pain, nerve damage and abnormal heart rhythm. Your local health department will be happy to answer your questions. Do not hesitate to reach out. "
Health authorities have warned that ticks live in shady, damp areas flush with the ground. They hang on tall grass, shrubs and shrubs, which are usually not more than 18 to 24 inches off the ground. They also live in lawns and gardens, especially at the edge of the woods and around old stone walls. Once on the skin, the tick goes up to reach a protected area. In tick-infested areas, your best protection is to avoid contact with soil, leaves and vegetation. However, if you are gardening, hiking, camping, hunting, working or spending time outdoors, you can always protect yourself.
"We want people to enjoy the outdoors this summer, but we want it too, because summer is a particularly busy time for ticks that carry Lyme disease," said Dr. Michael Mendoza, director of the public health of Monroe County. "Ticks can crawl on people or animals when they are brushed in wooded areas or tall grass; they become easier to see when they are engorged with blood when they are attached to the skin. Ticks usually need to be attached to the skin for 36 to 48 hours to transmit Lyme disease. It is therefore important to eliminate them quickly. "
Stay safe
The New York State Department of Health offers the following tips to ensure your safety as well as that of your family when you venture out:
• Wear light colored clothing with a tight weave to easily spot ticks.
• Wear closed shoes, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. Place the pant legs in the socks or boots and the shirt in the pants.
• Check clothing and any frequently exposed skin for ticks when you are outside.
• Use an insect repellent.
• Stay on clear and well-traveled trails. Walk in the center of the trails. Avoid dense woods and bushy areas.
• Avoid sitting directly on the floor or on stone walls.
• Keep long hair tied in the back, especially when gardening.
• Take a bath or shower as soon as possible after going inside to wash yourself and to find ticks that might touch you more easily.
• Do one last check of whole body ticks at the end of the day and remove the ticks quickly. Also check children and pets.
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