State health officials urge residents to take precautions against tick bites and Lyme disease this spring

  • Published
  • By Massachusetts Department of Public Health
BOSTON --  The Massachusetts Department of Public Health is encouraging residents to stay vigilant against tick bites when they're outdoors this spring and summer. Ticks are present in the environment anytime temperatures are above freezing, but they're especially active as temperatures get warmer in spring and summer. If not removed promptly from the skin, ticks can transmit Lyme disease, a serious but treatable illness.

"With temperatures warming up and outdoor activities on the rise, it's important that people take simple, common-sense steps to protect themselves and their families against tick bites and the Lyme disease they can spread," said DPH State Epidemiologist Dr. Alfred DeMaria.

Ticks are tiny and are most commonly found in brushy, wooded or grassy areas, including backyards. There are several steps that people can take to protect themselves from tick bites, prevent the spread of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses.

· People who are outside in an area likely to have ticks should use an insect repellent with DEET or permethrin. DEET products should not be used on infants under two months of age and should be used in concentrations of 30 percent or less on older children. Permethrin products are intended for use on items such as clothing, shoes, bed nets and camping gear and are not effective when applied to skin.

· Check yourself, your children and pets for ticks after coming inside. Pay special attention to areas between the toes, back of the knees, groin, armpits, neck, along the hairline and behind the ears.

· Anyone who finds a tick attached to the skin, use a pair of fine point tweezers to grip the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull straight out with steady pressure.

· Talk to a doctor if a rash develops where bitten, or symptoms such as fever, headache, fatigue or sore and aching muscles are experienced after a tick bite.

Lyme disease is the most commonly reported tick-borne disease in Massachusetts. According to the latest data, in 2010 a total of 2,641 cases of Lyme disease were reported in the state.

For more information on tick-borne illness surveillance and prevention, visit www.mass.gov/dph/tick or call the Hanscom Public Health office at 781-225-6301 or 781-225-6295.