What do you know
Experts have reported an increase in tick-tick encounters this summer, with more tick-related emergency room visits than in the same time last year. Lyme disease is expanding to new regions as it is important that weather patterns change when mood bites, experts say. Scroll down for some of the best ways to keep you and your family mites free. Lime’s disease was in the spotlight on Thursday when Justin Timberlake shared that he was diagnosed with a “debilitating” illness.
Planning an outdoor vacation this summer requires a lot of considerations. Navigates rainy weekends, withstands heavy traffic and perhaps faces the worst problems.
Experts have warned that there are so many mites in the wilderness this summer, but there are plenty of tips to keep you and your family safe from mites bites and tick-borne illnesses.
CDC data shows that there have been far more tick-related emergency room visits in the past few months than in the same time last year. Visits in May and June increased by 30% from last year to 20%.
Although the numbers this year are much higher than last year, data show that mites-related emergency room visits can vary widely from year to year.
“One year is hot tick, but some aren’t. Now, this happens to be a hot tick year,” explained Thomas Daniels of the Lewis Calder Center at Fordham University.
Daniels’ tick index is nine out of 10 this week, indicating a high risk of tick exposure in the tri-state area. The tick index is a relative measure, which represents the risk of mites exposure compared to the past few weeks this year.
“We’re always going to start with one or two. We’re always going to hit ten. Then we’re always going to back down,” Daniels said. “The difference this year is the fact that 10 this year has far more mites involved than 10 last year.”
Daniels’ tick index is endemic to the Northeast, but he said this trend appears to be consistent across the US this summer.
A high number of mites can increase your risk of Lyme disease. This is a tick-borne disease that has become common in recent years.
I don’t want to discourage anyone from going out and enjoying nature… Understand that there is a high risk for now.
Thomas Daniels, director of the Louis Calder Centre at Fordham University
How to prevent Lyme disease
CDC data show that the already increasing incidence of Lyme disease has almost doubled since the pandemic. Experts suggest that climate change may play a role. Because ticks thrive in warm, humid conditions, which are becoming more common. Mites carrying Lyme disease are also expanding to new regions as weather patterns change across the US
Lyme disease incidence is highest in the Northeast, the Mid-Atlantic Ocean, and the Northern Midwest. Experts estimate that around 20% to 30% of young deer mites in the northeast carry Lyme disease.
As mites encounters can become more common this year, it is important to take appropriate precautions when enjoying the outdoors.
“I don’t want to discourage anyone from going out and enjoying nature,” Daniels said. “In fact, we live in woodlands because we want to go out. Understand that it’s risky right now.”
According to the CDC, many Lyme disease patients don’t know about mites bites before they show symptoms. Therefore, taking precautions against mites exposure becomes even more important.
Experts suggest:
If you’re outdoors, stay in the middle of the trail and avoid areas with wooded brushes. Put your ticks in long pants, put your trousers and shirts in to restrict access to the skin. To repel mites, we use EPA-registered insect repellents to treat clothing, but we can purchase products containing 0.5% permethrin, rather than skin, or pre-treated clothing. When spending time outdoors in areas with high risk of Lyme disease, check your body and clothing thoroughly. Find the tic check CDC guidelines here.
What should you do if you get bitten by a mite
According to the CDC, mites usually need to adhere for more than 24 hours to transmit Lyme disease. This means it is important to remove the tick as soon as possible once it is discovered.
To remove the tick, grab the mites as close as possible to the skin with tweezers and pull them up without convulsions or twisting. If tweezers are not available, grab the mites with your fingers. Once the mites are removed, clean the area and wash your hands with rubbed alcohol or soap.
Source: CDC
Once the ticks are removed, it is important to properly dispose of the mites. The CDC advises one of the following methods for mites removal:
Place the tick in an airtight container and wrap it tightly with tape and flush it down the toilet.
You can report tick experiences to resources such as the Tick App and the University of Rhode Island Tick Spotter to identify tick species and learn more about tick safety.
Once the tick is removed, check your clothes and body thoroughly for other mites.
Symptoms of Lyme Disease
According to the CDC, Lyme disease can develop symptoms several months after being bitten by an infected mites. Early symptoms usually appear in 3-30 days and often include bulls’ eyes, fever, chills, fatigue, headaches, muscle pain, joint pain, and rashes in the shape of swollen lymph nodes.
If Lyme Disease is not treated, symptoms can occur several months or months after the mites bite. Signs after Lyme disease include severe headaches, multiple rashes throughout the body, drooping on one or both sides of the face, pain in the joints, tendons, and bones, and other serious symptoms. Find a complete list of possible Lyme disease symptoms on the CDC website.
The CDC recommends seeking a doctor if you experience the above symptoms and have recently been bitten by a tick, or if you live in an area where Lyme disease is common or have recently moved.
How Lyme Disease spreads
There are two types of ticks in the United States that can carry Lyme disease. This is a black foot tick, a western black foot tick commonly known as a deer tick. If you are bitten by a mites, experts recommend identifying the mites to identify them.
There are many other tick species in the United States that do not carry Lyme disease but can carry other tick-borne diseases. Black-footed ticks, lonely star ticks, and dog ticks generally bite humans, but they are not the only species.
Source: CDC
Adult deer mites are most common in spring and fall, while summer deer mites are more common in summer months. Larval mites pose a particularly risky situation when it comes to Lyme disease. Because they are the size of poppy seeds and are difficult to find.
Mites that can carry Lyme disease exist on the West Coast and the eastern US, but the Western states tend to have lower case rates. According to the CDC, southeastern deer mites rarely carry Lyme disease.
Source link
