In Columbia County, there has been an increased rate of people becoming ill from tick bites, causing a concerning increase in hospitalizations and emergency room visits. It’s not just Lyme Disease- we’ve received confirmed cases of other tick borne illness including Anaplasma and Babesia at alarming rates so far this summer.
Stay vigilant this holiday weekend while you’re enjoying the outdoors! Here are some ways to protect yourself from tick bites:
1. Wear light-colored clothing with a tight weave to spot ticks easily.
2. Wear enclosed shoes, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt.
3. Tuck pant legs into socks or boots and shirt into pants.
4. Check clothes and any exposed skin frequently for ticks while outdoors.
5. Consider using insect repellent.
6. Stay on cleared, well-traveled trails. Walk in the center of trails.
7. Avoid dense woods and bushy areas.
8. Avoid sitting directly on the ground, on fallen logs or on stone walls.
9. Keep long hair tied back, especially when gardening.
10. Bathe or shower as soon as possible after going indoors (preferably within two hours) to wash off and more easily find ticks that may be on you.
11. Do a final, full-body tick check at the end of the day (also check children and pets), and remove ticks promptly.
Removing a tick as soon as you find it can reduce the likelihood of contracting any disease that tick may be carrying!
Watch this video on how to properly remove a tick: https://youtu.be/oGrK4ZKUfhQ
For more information: https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/lyme/