With warmer weather returning, Michiganders are being reminded to check for ticks when venturing outside. Michigan health officials say the ‘black legged tick’, which is the carrier of Lyme disease, has been expanding its territory from west to east in the state recently. They say with movement heading inland, more cases of tick-borne illnesses have been popping up.
Director of Environmental Health for the Central Michigan District Health Department Steve King said changes in weather patterns have provided more suitable living areas for the bugs.
"Well, speculation is that the change in the weather patterns has provided more suitable living areas or habitats for ticks farther inland in Michigan," he said. "Traditionally, that's the colder part of Michigan in winter time. And if we're not getting quite as cold, they can survive those winters and expand inward."
With this movement, the possibility of picking up ticks on your next trip to the woods increases...as does the chance of picking up Lyme Disease.
King explained that not all ticks are infected with disease but it's best not to take the chance. Lyme Disease is the most prevalent in Michigan but ticks can also pass on Anaplasmosis or the more rare Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Osis.
"One of the important things, you know, is checking yourself for ticks that have latched on and remove them as quickly as possible. Because the longer that they're attached, the greater the chance that they transmit disease, if they're infected," King explained.
Ticks also can pass on disease at any point in their life cycle too. They may be visible as an adult but in their "early stages", as nymphs, they also can be infectious.
"Look for you know, the tick itself, it could be a little black dot. But if you've been exposed to a tick bite, one of the things to look for is a rash around the bite area. That can be a week or two before it can show up. Also, unexplained fever, headaches, muscle aches are symptoms . Anytime that you have those conditions and know that you've been exposed to ticks, were out in a tick infested area and didn't see a tick on yourself, you should consult with your doctor."
King advised if you are outdoors this spring and summer, to walk in the center of paths, don't brush up against leaves or tall grass in your yard, keep your grass mowed and dried leaves picked up. Keeping landscape trimmed and brush piles controlled is helpful to lower the habitat for tick populations. He also said using insect repellent, can be effective. If you're hiking through woods, tucking your pant legs inside your boots, or inside your socks can help keep them from getting to to your skin area. After spending time outside, do laundry or putting your clothes in the dryer for at least 10 minutes on high heat will kill ticks.
What to do if you find a tick attached? Don't worry.
"Use a sharp pair of tweezers, grab as close to the skin as you possibly can and pull straight out and try not to twist or or turn the tick. Try to get all of the body parts out of the bite. And then once you do that, clean that wound area with hot soapy water or alcohol or some other disinfectant," King said. "Then take a picture of it and send it in to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services for identification."
It won't tell you if the tick is infected but it'll tell you if it's a species that's known to carry a disease.
To send in a picture click:
https://www.michigan.gov/emergingdiseases/-/media/Project/Websites/emergingdiseases/Folder3/Tick_Photo_Details.pdf
