The Dangers of Tick Borne Disease

Summer has officially kicked off! It’s time for beach trips, vacations, bar-b-ques, and general frivolity in the outdoors. Unfortunately, it is easy to get distracted by the fun and games, forgetting the dangers that lurk while on your outdoor hike or enjoying your picnic. Blood feeding arthropods such as ticks and mosquitoes are common throughout the united states and pose a threat not to just your comfort, but also to your health.

A recent study by the CDC reports that since 2004, the number of reportable vector borne diseases has more than doubled to more than 48,000 cases in 2016. These vector borne diseases included a huge number of Lyme disease cases – which are typically acquired through the bite of a blacklegged tick.

So what can you do to protect yourself while in the outdoors? It’s actually quite simple. Follow these steps to reduce your chances of being bitten by mosquitoes and ticks:

• • Use a CDC recommended insect repellent on your clothing and other exposed areas
• Wear light colored clothing
• Wear loose fitting clothing
• Wear long sleeves and long pants and in some cases a hat
• When you get home perform tick checks – a partner is helpful when looking for small immature ticks
• Know how to properly remove a tick