Summer tick season
By RON DEUTER,Staff WriterArticle Photos
IRON MOUNTAIN - The arrival of summer warmth brings with it unwelcome visitors in the form of ticks, including deer ticks which can spread Lyme Disease.
Even though nearby Menominee County is a hotbed in the state for deer ticks, the population of the potential disease carriers is far less here in Dickinson and Iron counties.
"We only see a handful of cases involving deer ticks," said Wade Dishaw, sanitarian with the Dickinson-Iron District Health Department. "If we get one we send it to a lab in Lansing to determine the presence of Lyme disease."
Dishaw said the last reported local positive case occurred two years ago. By comparison, Menominee County reported 59 cases from May 1, 2008 to May 1, 2009, the highest number of cases of any county in Michigan during the span.
"We just don't have a high population of deer ticks here," he said.
Far more common in this area is the wood tick, which is not a disease carrier but a nuisance nonetheless.
"The threat from wood ticks is infection at the bite site if entire tick is not removed properly," Dishaw said.
According to Dishaw, a deer tick is much smaller than a wood tick. Deer ticks are orange and brown in color with a black spot near the head. Wood ticks have a whitish mark toward the head. Wood tick populations typically thin out by mid July, whereas deer ticks can last until fall.
An ID card detailing the differences between the two ticks is available for free at both the Dickinson and Iron health department offices.
Ticks are located in wooded areas, brush, marshes and tall grass. If a tick is found on your body, it is advised to use tweezers to pull the tick out slowly without crushing or killing the tick while it is still attached to your skin, then wash the bite area with alcohol or iodine.
"Lyme is carried only by female Deer ticks," Dishaw said. "And they have to be fully engorged into a person to pass the disease."
Lyme disease is characterized by a red, circular rash at the tick site, often followed by flu-like symptoms such as fever, body aches or fatigue, according to information from the Michigan Lyme Disease Association (MLDA). The disease is quickly treated with antibiotics when caught early. If left untreated, Lyme disease can lead to serious heart, neurological and joint problems.
Pets exposed to the outdoors should also be protected from ticks. Owners should inspect their pets daily, especially around the ears. Veterinarians recommend a light spray of of a repellent containing DEET to help keep ticks off.
The Michigan Lyme Disease Association suggests the following prevention methods to reduce the chance of an infected tick bite:
- Wear light colored clothing to spot ticks easily.
- Wear a hat and long-sleeved shirt, tucking in hems and cuffs.
- Use an insect repellent containing DEET.
- Stay in the middle of hiking trails, avoiding underbrush and tall grass.
- Always do a tick check when coming in from outdoors.
For a free packet of information on Lyme disease and ticks, call the MLDA toll-free at 1-888-784-5963.
Ron Deuter's e-mail address is rdeuter@ironmountaindailynews.com.
