Ticks Could be Carrying a New Disease this Season

Lone Star Tick

Heat

With the incredible heat, we’ve been experiencing this spring, and it should be no surprise that the tick season this year will be longer and more populated than almost ever before. The centers for disease control said that there would be more ticks this season. Also, they stated that the ticks have the potential of carrying a new illness.

Illness

The illness is called Powassan. The Powassan virus is transmitted to humans by infected ticks. Approximately 75 cases of POW virus disease reported in the United States alone. Just over the past ten years. Most incidents have occurred in the Northeast and Great Lakes region.

Signs and symptoms of infection can include fever, headache, vomiting, weakness, confusion, seizures, and memory loss. Long-term neurologic problems may occur. There is no specific treatment. People with severe POW virus illnesses often need to be hospitalized to receive respiratory support, intravenous fluids, or medications to reduce swelling in the brain.

Deer

Campers, hikers, and people who live near woods, lakes, swamps, and almost anywhere that has a deer population are certainly going to have to take extra precautions this year.

Check for Ticks

Checking over your dog any time you take them out for a walk or an extended period of outside play is a must, and also your legs and ankles. For such small, round creatures they’re very mobile. Ticks hunt their prey and will follow vapor trails of carbon dioxide from up to a mile away. Although it’s a tiny one, this parasite is very much like a predator.

CDC

The CDC recommends avoiding high grass, walking in the center of trails and using repellent with at least 20 percent DEET.

Bathe

You should also bathe or shower to remove ticks as soon as possible. Clothing and gear must be treated, as well as dogs.

Remove Ticks

If you do find yourself bitten, Use fine-tipped tweezers to remove a tick. If you don’t have tweezers, put on gloves or cover your hands with tissue paper, then use your fingers. Do not handle the tick with bare hands. Grab the tick as close you can get to its mouth, the part that’s stuck inside your skin. Avoid squeezing the belly, as that can pump the infected fluid inside the tick into you.

Make sure to pull it straight back out of your skin and avoid twisting. Otherwise, you may break the head off inside of your skin. If you fear the tick may be infected, put the tick in a dry jar or ziplock bag and save it in the freezer. Then have an identification if needed. After the removal of the tick, wash the area of the tick bite with a lot of warm, clean water. Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water also.

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