In the midst of tick season and heading into mosquito season, Warren County Health Department Administrator Jenna Link offers tips in staying safe from Lyme Disease and West Nile Virus:
“It has been pretty dry so that has been to our benefit. As the summer wears on, mosquitoes that like to cause trouble with West Nile Virus, they are usual more in July and August. That is the water that likes to pond for at least seven days and that is what is going to cause trouble with those mosquitoes. Weather will dictate a lot as we move through the summer as to what happens with mosquitoes. I have talked to a lot of people who have seen or had a lot of ticks. If you are outside in the grass walking through, make sure you check when you come back in. If you find them, get them removed as quickly as possible. Some people will have some flu like symptoms after they have been bitten by a tick. Typically if it is Lyme Disease, there will be like a bullseye shaped bruise, but by all means if that happens you need to seek medical attention, go see your doctor. They can treat with an antibiotic and if you catch it early, typically you won’t have those long term affects.”
Link reports the best way to remove a tick is with a pair of tweezers, grab it by the mouth where it is attached to the skin, and dispose of it.
