DGLA: Michigan Cooperative Point Series - Summer 2014 *** 5th Annual ***   May 5, 2014 at 10:00pm

DGLA MiCPS-S: A crawling itchy feeling - TICKS..... 5/05/2014

State health officials say ticks, particularly black-legged ticks that carry Lyme disease, are no laughing matter."

http://www.mlive.com/outdoors/index.ssf/2012/05/michigans_tick_problem_is_grow.html

I am hearing more and more about players finding ticks this season and I normally play in south east Michigan, which is not an area normal identified as at risk for Lyme disease but if you read more you will find that the Blacklegged ticks have been heading north from Indiana over the years. Currently the West side of Michigan and UP have the highest risk but those pesky bugs are headed east as well.

Some quick notes included:
Do all tick carry Lyme disease?
How do ticks get on us? Drop from trees? Jump off disc golf baskets?
What type of habitat do ticks prefer?
How to protect yourself & your pets?
How to deal with ticks if you find one attached?

I copied a bunch of key info in here but the links are also included if you'd like to read more. Note - check the dates on maps as many are old 2011 or so.

Not all ticks carry Lyme Disease but all ticks are a pain - and itchy and the info on how to deal with them if one gets a hold of you is still the same.

Have fun playing in the woods but Play Smart and be Safe.

The biggest issue in our area related to ticks is with Lime disease and this is associated with the Blacklegged tick.

Picture of the Blacklegged Tick
http://media.mlive.com/outdoors_impact/photo/11000178-large.jpg

Michigan Lyme Disease Risk Map
https://www.michigan.gov/emergingdiseases/0,1607,7-186-25890_26143-95445--,00.html

Some key excerpts:

"This study has involved looking for the presence of the blacklegged tick, testing those ticks for infection with Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterial cause of Lyme disease, and looking for evidence of infection in rodents and dogs in the area. "

"Information being obtained from this ongoing study indicates an emerging presence of blacklegged ticks in all counties along the western border of Michigan. Many hundreds of these ticks have been tested for the Lyme disease bacteria, and up to 45 percent of the ticks have tested positive for Lyme disease."

"Erik Foster, a medical epidemiologist with the Michigan Department of Community Health said 106 cases of Lyme disease were confirmed in Michigan in 2011. Not all of those cases originated in Michigan.

Twenty-six of those people were bitten and exposed to the disease in West Michigan, according to state records. Another 39 were exposed in the western Upper Peninsula, primarily in Menominee County, but "Gogebic and Baraga counties have cases, too," Foster said. "Most of those were along the Wisconsin border."

One got the disease in another part of Michigan. Forty others got it while travelling out of state. A couple of those originated in Europe.

"We were out two weeks ago, and there were plenty of adult ticks out in Benzie and Leelanau counties," he said."

Not only do we have to be aware of the conditions at our travel destination but we also have to be careful that we don't help the migration of pests like Ticks, the rodents and deer already do a good job of this but our pets and our stuff can move them larger distances faster.

"It takes 24 to 48 hours for Lyme disease to be transmitted from a tick to a person," Foster said.

Also recommended is removing ticks with a tweezers, grabbing it as close to the skin as possible and pulling it straight out slowly, making sure its mouth parts are removed. Then it is time to cleanse the skin and apply an antiseptic.

Foster dispelled the notion that ticks drop out of trees.

"They’re generally found on low-lying vegetation. How high they go depends on their life stage. Larvae and nymphs want mice and chipmunks. Adults are higher up to get whitetail deer. They do not drop out of trees," he said."

"it is important to remind people to use personal protective measures when recreating in wooded areas, such as:

Light colored clothing
Long pants tucked into socks and long sleeved shirt
Insect repellants that contain DEET (5% or lower concentration for children, and 30% or lower for adults)
Permethrin repellants can be used on clothing NOT on bare skin
Perform regular tick checks
"

"Fabrics treated with repellents such as permethrin work well. One well-known, brand name is "Buzz-off.""

"While we were up north testing them, I would stop every 20 meters and pick them (ticks) off, but a co-worker was wearing the pre-treated clothing and not getting a tick on her clothes. The stuff really works," Foster said.

Ticks like moist, humid environments in or near woody or grassy areas. The CDC suggests wearing long sleeves, long pants and socks and treating clothing and boots with DEET repellents or permethrin.

Proper Tick Removal
http://www.mlda.org/Prevention/ProperTickRemoval.aspx
Ticks should be removed promptly. The longer a tick is attached the higher the risk of disease transmission. Ticks can attach to any part of the body but prefer areas such as the armpits, ears, groin, neck and scalp. Tick checks should be preformed routinely after being outdoors.

These guidelines should be followed during tick removal:

Proper Tick Removal
1. Use fine-tipped tweezers to firmly but gently grasp the tick's mouthparts as close to the skin as possible. Try to protect bare hands with a tissue or gloves to avoid contact with tick fluids.

2. Gently pull the tick straight out, being careful not to twist or jerk the tick, as this may cause the mouthparts to break off and remain in the skin. You may have to tug gently several times.

3. Proper Tick Removal3. Immediately after removing the tick, thoroughly disinfect the bite area and wash your hands with soap and water.

4. Place the tick in a small baggie or pill bottle along with a damp piece of cotton or paper towel to keep the tick alive. "
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Again - Have fun playing in the woods but Play smart and be safe. Peace

Disclaimer - This is not to be perceived as medical advice......