Rockland Health Officials Offer Tips For Keeping Ticks Away This Fall

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY — Health officials are reminding Hudson Valley residents that the end of hot summer days doesn't mean an end to the risk of tick-borne diseases .

From the Rockland County Department of Health.

The Rockland County Department of Health reminds residents that tick bites are still a risk in the fall months since ticks can stay active until the temperature falls below freezing or the ground is completely covered in snow. A bite from an infected black-legged tick, also known as a deer tick, can cause Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases such as babesiosis.

Protect yourself, your children, and your pets from tick bites and tick-borne disease, especially when hiking, hunting, fishing, raking leaves, or taking part in other outdoor activities this fall with the following tips:

• Dress in clothes that protect. Light-colored and long-sleeved clothing, long pants, socks, and closed shoes like sneakers or boots are recommended.
• Consider using insect repellent. Follow directions on the repellent label as some products should be used only on clothing, never on the skin, and talk to your child’s doctor about using repellent on your children. Never let children put repellent on themselves.
• Stay on cleared, well-traveled trails. Avoid dense woods and bushy areas.
• Check your skin for ticks daily. When outside, check your skin and clothing frequently for ticks. Common areas on the body to check for ticks are the thighs, groin, trunk, and armpits.
• Remove ticks quickly and safely. Remove ticks as soon as possible using fine-tipped tweezers. Grab the tick near the mouth as close to the skin as possible. Do not twist or squeeze the tick's body. Instead, pull the tick in a steady, upward motion away from the skin until the tick lets go. After removing the tick, clean the bite area and your hands very well with rubbing alcohol or soap and water. For tick identification, call the Cornell Cooperative Extension Horticultural Lab at (845) 429-7085.

After a tick bite, watch for Lyme disease symptoms for at least 30 days. If you develop a rash or flu-like symptoms, contact your health care provider immediately.

Symptoms can include tiredness, headache, stiff neck, slight fever, swollen glands, muscle or joint pain, and a red circular rash (called erythema migrans) that often appears at the site of the tick bite, usually within 3 to 14 days after the bite of an infected tick.

"Enjoy the beautiful outdoors in Rockland County, but remember prevention remains the most effective method to protect yourself and your loved ones from getting tick-borne diseases," said County Executive Ed Day.

For more information, visit our Tick-borne Disease Education and Prevention Program and the New York State Department of Health.

This press release was produced by Rockland County Government. The views expressed here are the author’s own.