Tick-Borne Illnesses on the Rise

First posted on 08-13-2007

Tick Reported cases of tick-borne illnesses have climbed dramatically this year in Missouri.

According to Howard Pue, State Public Health Veterinarian, “Some of the increase in tick-borne disease is the result of increased recognition and reporting.” But Hue also pointed out that, “other factors such as more people spending more time outdoors, and more homes being built in former forest or farm land are also contributing to an increase in the incidence of tick-borne disease.”

For example, the state has received reports of 117 cases of Ehrlichiosis, compared to the 5-year median of 38 cases. They’ve also received reports of 186 cases of Rocky Mountain spotted fever, a 200 percent increase over the average of 62; reported cases of tularemia have jumped by 46 percent and Lyme disease reports have climbed by 64 percent.

The good news is that the recent rash of hot weather has the tick population in retreat. But when the weather cools off, the risk will return until fall when sustained temperatures of 45 degrees or lower finally end the tick season. It usually takes a hard freeze to drastically reduce tick activity.

The diseases affect people differently, experts said. Children are more susceptible to Rocky Mountain spotted fever while ehrlichiosis is more dangerous to people over the age of 40.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) is urging Missourians to take extra precautions to protect themselves against tick bites as the numbers of tick-borne disease cases continue to increase at rates that have public health officials concerned. Because tick-borne diseases can be debilitating and even deadly, it is important for people to know what to do to prevent bites and how to safely remove imbedded ticks.

Tick Bite Prevention Tips
• Avoid wooded and bushy areas with high grass and a lot of leaf litter.
• Walk in the center of the trail to avoid overgrown grass, brush and leaf litter.
• Wear long pants, long sleeves, and long socks to keep ticks off your skin. Light-colored clothing will help you spot ticks more easily. Tuck pant legs into socks or boots, and tuck shirts into pants to keep ticks on the outside of clothing.
• Use insect repellents containing 20 to 50 percent DEET on exposed skin and clothing.
• Products containing permethrin are also effective, but are to be used on clothing only. Permethrin kills ticks on contact and one application to pants, socks and shoes typically stays effective through several laundry washings.
• Do a tick check and remove ticks from your clothing before going indoors. To kill any remaining ticks, wash your clothes with hot water and dry them using high heat for at least one hour.
• Perform daily tick checks after being outdoors, even in your own yard. Inspect all parts of your body carefully, including armpits, scalp and groin.

Tick Removal Steps
• Use fine-tipped tweezers to firmly grasp the tick very close to your skin.
• With a steady motion, pull the tick’s body way from your skin.
• Clean your skin with soap and warm water.
• Avoid crushing the tick’s body. Do not be alarmed if the tick’s mouthparts remain in the skin. Once the mouthparts are removed from the tick’s body, disease bacteria can no longer be transmitted to you.
• If you accidentally crush the tick, clean your skin with soap and warm water, or with alcohol.
• Don’t use petroleum jelly, a hot match, nail polish, or other products to remove a tick.